diff --git a/lib/bosl/compiler/field_access.rb b/lib/bosl/compiler/field_access.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7efb76c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/bosl/compiler/field_access.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+module Bosl
+  Compiler.class_eval do
+
+    def on_field_access expression
+      puts expression.inspect
+      receiver_ast , field_ast = *expression
+      receiver = receiver_ast.first_from(:name)
+      field_name = field_ast.first_from(:name)
+
+      case receiver
+      when :self
+        for_class = self.method.for_class
+        index = for_class.object_layout.variable_index(field_name)
+        raise "field access, but no such field:#{field_name} for class #{for_class.name}"
+        method.source.add_code Virtual::Set.new( Virtual::ArgSlot.new(:int,index ) , ret)
+
+      when :message
+        #message Slot
+        raise "message not yet"
+      else
+        #arg / frame Slot
+        raise "frame not implemented"
+      end
+
+      Virtual::Return.new( value )
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/compiler/test_field_access.rb b/test/compiler/test_field_access.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c719093d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/compiler/test_field_access.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+require_relative "compiler_helper"
+require_relative "code_checker"
+
+module Virtual
+  class TestFoo < MiniTest::Test
+    include CodeChecker
+
+    def test_foo2
+      @string_input = <<HERE
+int a
+int foo(int x)
+  int b = self.a
+  return b +x
+end
+HERE
+      @expect =  [ Virtual::Return ]
+      check
+    end
+
+
+  end
+end