diff --git a/src/core/regalloc.c b/src/core/regalloc.c
index 13898386..83cfbc7b 100644
--- a/src/core/regalloc.c
+++ b/src/core/regalloc.c
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ void janetc_regalloc_free(JanetcRegisterAllocator *ra, int32_t reg) {
 int32_t janetc_regalloc_temp(JanetcRegisterAllocator *ra, JanetcRegisterTemp nth) {
     int32_t oldmax = ra->max;
     if (ra->regtemps & (1 << nth)) {
+        printf("regtemp %d attempted\n", nth);
         janet_exit("regtemp already allocated");
     }
     ra->regtemps |= 1 << nth;
diff --git a/src/core/specials.c b/src/core/specials.c
index 4a553412..8be85bdc 100644
--- a/src/core/specials.c
+++ b/src/core/specials.c
@@ -602,6 +602,7 @@ static JanetSlot janetc_while(JanetFopts opts, int32_t argn, const Janet *argv)
         int32_t tempself = janetc_regalloc_temp(&tempscope.ra, JANETC_REGTEMP_0);
         janetc_emit(c, JOP_LOAD_SELF | (tempself << 8));
         janetc_emit(c, JOP_TAILCALL | (tempself << 8));
+        janetc_regalloc_freetemp(&c->scope->ra, tempself, JANETC_REGTEMP_0);
         /* Compile function */
         JanetFuncDef *def = janetc_pop_funcdef(c);
         def->name = janet_cstring("_while");
@@ -610,7 +611,7 @@ static JanetSlot janetc_while(JanetFopts opts, int32_t argn, const Janet *argv)
         int32_t cloreg = janetc_regalloc_temp(&c->scope->ra, JANETC_REGTEMP_0);
         janetc_emit(c, JOP_CLOSURE | (cloreg << 8) | (defindex << 16));
         janetc_emit(c, JOP_CALL | (cloreg << 8) | (cloreg << 16));
-        janetc_regalloc_free(&c->scope->ra, cloreg);
+        janetc_regalloc_freetemp(&c->scope->ra, cloreg, JANETC_REGTEMP_0);
         c->scope->flags |= JANET_SCOPE_CLOSURE;
         return janetc_cslot(janet_wrap_nil());
     }