diff --git a/lib/parfait/object.rb b/lib/parfait/object.rb
index c2ff6fd8..d80d942f 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/object.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/object.rb
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ module Parfait
 
     def get_layout()
       l = internal_object_get(LAYOUT_INDEX)
-      raise "No layout #{self.class}:#{self.class} #{self.object_id}" unless l
+      raise "No layout #{self.to_s}:#{self.class} #{self.object_id}" unless l
       return l
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/parfait/space.rb b/lib/parfait/space.rb
index 9ef1017d..a7e4bbc6 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/space.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/space.rb
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ module Parfait
       end
       @next_message = @messages.first
       @next_frame = @frames.first
+      init_layout
     end
 
     @@object_space = nil
diff --git a/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb b/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
index cda39cdf..69858853 100644
--- a/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
+++ b/lib/register/builtin/kernel.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ module Builtin
       end
       def putstring context
         function = Virtual::CompiledMethodInfo.create_method(:Kernel , :putstring , [] )
-        return function
+        emit_syscall( function , :putstring )
         ret = Virtual::RegisterMachine.instance.write_stdout(function)
         function.set_return ret
         function
@@ -35,6 +35,39 @@ module Builtin
         function.info.return_type = Virtual::Integer
         return function
       end
+
+      private
+      def emit_syscall function , name
+        save_message( function )
+        function.info.add_code Register::Syscall.new( name )
+        restore_message(function)
+      end
+      # save the current message, as the syscall destroys all context
+      #
+      # currently HACKED into the space as a temporary varaible. As the space is a globally
+      # unique object we can retrieve it from there
+      # TODO : fix this to use global (later per thread) variable
+      def save_message(function)
+        space_tmp = Register::RegisterReference.tmp_reg
+        ind = Parfait::Space.object_space.get_layout().index_of( :syscall_message )
+        raise "index not found for :syscall_message" unless ind
+        function.info.add_code LoadConstant.new( space_tmp , Parfait::Space.object_space )
+        function.info.add_code << SetSlot.new( Virtual::Slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , space_tmp , ind)
+      end
+      def restore_message(function)
+        # get the sys return out of the way
+        return_tmp = Register::RegisterReference.tmp_reg
+        # load the space into the base register
+        function.info.add_code RegisterTransfer.new( Virtual::Slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , return_tmp )
+        # find the stored message
+        ind = Parfait::Space.object_space.get_layout().index_of( :syscall_message )
+        raise "index not found for #{kind}.#{kind.class}" unless ind
+        # and load it into the base RegisterMachine
+        function.info.add_code GetSlot.new( Virtual::Slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , ind , Virtual::Slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER )
+        # and "unroll" self and frame
+        function.info.add_code GetSlot.new( slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , Virtual::SELF_INDEX, slot::SELF_REGISTER )
+        function.info.add_code GetSlot.new( slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , Virtual::FRAME_INDEX, slot::FRAME_REGISTER )
+      end
     end
     extend ClassMethods
   end
diff --git a/lib/register/instruction.rb b/lib/register/instruction.rb
index 18520883..ac45a232 100644
--- a/lib/register/instruction.rb
+++ b/lib/register/instruction.rb
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ end
 require_relative "instructions/set_slot"
 require_relative "instructions/get_slot"
 require_relative "instructions/load_constant"
+require_relative "instructions/syscall"
 require_relative "instructions/function_call"
 require_relative "instructions/function_return"
 require_relative "instructions/save_return"
diff --git a/lib/register/instructions/syscall.rb b/lib/register/instructions/syscall.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d967ae9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/register/instructions/syscall.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+module Register
+
+  # name says it all really
+  # only arg is the method syscall name
+  # how the layer below executes these is really up to it
+
+  # Any function issuing a Syscall should also save the current message
+  # and restore it after the syscall, saving the return value in Return_index
+
+  class Syscall < Instruction
+
+    def initialize name
+      @name = name
+    end
+    attr_reader :name
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/register/passes/call_implementation.rb b/lib/register/passes/call_implementation.rb
index ff535f11..021ac3b1 100644
--- a/lib/register/passes/call_implementation.rb
+++ b/lib/register/passes/call_implementation.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ module Register
         # move the current new_message to message
         new_codes << RegisterTransfer.new( slot::NEW_MESSAGE_REGISTER , slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER )
         # "roll out" self into its register
-        new_codes << GetSlot.new( slot::SELF_REGISTER ,slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , Virtual::SELF_INDEX )
+        new_codes << GetSlot.new( slot::MESSAGE_REGISTER , Virtual::SELF_INDEX, slot::SELF_REGISTER )
         # do the register call
         new_codes << FunctionCall.new( code.method )
         block.replace(code , new_codes )
diff --git a/test/virtual/test_hello.rb b/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
index db7e5bc0..f88d371e 100644
--- a/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
+++ b/test/virtual/test_hello.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class HelloTest < MiniTest::Test
   def check
     machine = Virtual::Machine.boot
     expressions = machine.compile_main @string_input
-    output_at = "Virtual::SetOptimisation"
+    output_at = "Register::CallImplementation"
     #{}"Register::CallImplementation"
     machine.run_before output_at
     puts Sof.write(machine.space)