diff --git a/lib/virtual/compiler.rb b/lib/virtual/compiler.rb
index e5b6132f..f3771eeb 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/compiler.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/compiler.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ module Virtual
       begin
         self.send "compile_#{exp_name}".to_sym , expression, method
       rescue NoMethodError => e
-        puts "No compile method found for " + exp_name
+        puts "No compile method found for " + exp_name + " #{e}"
         raise e
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/compiler/while_expression.rb b/lib/virtual/compiler/while_expression.rb
index 1806f06b..fe530f0d 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/compiler/while_expression.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/compiler/while_expression.rb
@@ -3,24 +3,26 @@ module Virtual
 
 #    while- attr_reader  :condition, :body
     def self.compile_while expression, method
-      start = Label.new("while_start")
-      method.add_code start
-      is = expression.condition.compile(method )
-      branch = IsTrueBranch.new "while"
-      merge = Label.new(branch.name)
-      branch.other = merge   #false jumps to end of while
-      method.add_code branch
-      last = is
+      # this is where the while ends and both branches meet
+      merge = method.source.new_block("while merge")
+      # this comes after the current and beofre the merge
+      start = method.source.new_block("while_start" )
+      method.source.current start
+
+      cond = Compiler.compile(expression.condition, method)
+
+      method.source.add_code IsTrueBranch.new(merge)
+
+      last = cond
       expression.body.each do |part|
-        last = part.compile(method  )
+        last = Compiler.compile(part , method)
         raise part.inspect if last.nil?
       end
-      # unconditionally brnach to the start
-      merge.next = method.current.next
-      method.current.next = start
-      # here we add the end of while that the branch jumps to
-      #but don't link it in (not using add)
-      method.current =  merge
+      # unconditionally branch to the start
+      method.source.add_code UnconditionalBranch.new(start)
+
+      # continue execution / compiling at the merge block
+      method.source.current merge
       last
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/virtual/method_source.rb b/lib/virtual/method_source.rb
index 0375a715..5d0a2ddc 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/method_source.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/method_source.rb
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ module Virtual
     # the added instruction will become the new insertion point
     def add_code instruction
       unless (instruction.is_a?(Instruction) or instruction.is_a?(Register::Instruction))
-        raise instruction.inspect
+        raise instruction.to_s
       end
       @current.add_code(instruction) #insert after current
       self
diff --git a/test/virtual/test_methods.rb b/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
index 3c6bddff..4d2d7dd1 100644
--- a/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
+++ b/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 require_relative "virtual_helper"
-
 module Virtual
   class TestMethods < MiniTest::Test
 
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ def foo(x)
   x
 end
 HERE
-    @output = nil
+    @output = [[1,2,3,4],[],[],[]]
     check
   end
 
@@ -94,6 +93,16 @@ HERE
     check
   end
 
+  def test_while
+    @string_input    = <<HERE
+while(1) do
+  3
+end
+HERE
+    @output = [[MethodEnter],[Set,IsTrueBranch,Set,UnconditionalBranch],[],[MethodReturn]]
+    check
+  end
+
   def ttest_function_while
     @string_input    = <<HERE
 def fibonaccit(n)