diff --git a/lib/parfait/frame.rb b/lib/parfait/frame.rb
index 489e6b0b..ab8cb7ad 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/frame.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/frame.rb
@@ -28,5 +28,9 @@ module Parfait
   class Frame < Object
     attribute :next_frame
 
+    def self.offset
+      Space.object_space.get_class_by_name(:Frame).object_layout.object_instance_length
+    end
+
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/parfait/layout.rb b/lib/parfait/layout.rb
index 01ceb8a3..91977eec 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/layout.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/layout.rb
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ module Parfait
       names
     end
 
+    def object_instance_length
+      self.get_length - 2
+    end
+
     alias :list_index :index_of
     # private inheritance is something to think off, we don't really want the list api exported
     def index_of name
diff --git a/lib/parfait/message.rb b/lib/parfait/message.rb
index ac9ac0e6..aba80e20 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/message.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/message.rb
@@ -29,35 +29,8 @@ module Parfait
       get_at(index)
     end
 
-    # def __send
-    #   typ = get_type_for( :receiver )
-    #   # TODO: this will obviously be recoded as case, once that is done :-)
-    #   # depending on value type get method
-    #   if( typ == Integer )
-    #     method = Integer.get_method @method_name
-    #   else
-    #     if( typ != ObjectReference )
-    #       raise "unimplemented case"
-    #     else
-    #       method = @receiver.get_singeton_method @method_name
-    #       # Find the method for the given object (receiver) according to ruby dispatch rules:
-    #         # - see if the receiver object has a (singleton) method by the name
-    #         # - get receivers class and look for instance methods of the name
-    #         # - go up inheritance tree
-    #         # - start over with method_missing instead
-    #         #    -> guaranteed to end at object.method_missing
-    #       unless method
-    #         cl = @receiver.layout.object_class
-    #         method = cl.get_instance_or_super_method @method_name
-    #       end
-    #     end
-    #   end
-    #   unless method
-    #     message = Message.new( @receiver , :method_missing , [@method_name] + @args)
-    #     message.send
-    #   else
-    #     method.call
-    #   end
-    # end
+    def self.offset
+      Space.object_space.get_class_by_name(:Message).object_layout.object_instance_length
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/parfait/object.rb b/lib/parfait/object.rb
index 3b238c60..05e462c0 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/object.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/object.rb
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ module Parfait
     def get_layout()
       l = internal_object_get(LAYOUT_INDEX)
       #puts "get layout for #{self.class} returns #{l.class}"
-      raise "No layout #{self.object_id.to_s(16)}:#{self.class} " unless l
+      raise "No layout #{self.object_id}:#{self.class} " unless l
       return l
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/phisol/compiler/assignment.rb b/lib/phisol/compiler/assignment.rb
index e2951914..0b3ecf71 100644
--- a/lib/phisol/compiler/assignment.rb
+++ b/lib/phisol/compiler/assignment.rb
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ module Phisol
       code = nil
       if( index = @method.has_arg(name))
          # TODO, check type @method.arguments[index].type
-        code = Register.set_slot(statement , v , :message , index )
+        code = Register.set_slot(statement , v , :message , index + Parfait::Message.offset )
       else # or a local so it is in the frame
         index = @method.has_local( name )
         if(index)
           # TODO, check type  @method.locals[index].type
           frame = use_reg(:Frame)
           @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , :message , :frame , frame )
-          code = Register.set_slot(statement , v , frame , index )
+          code = Register.set_slot(statement , v , frame , index + Parfait::Frame.offset )
         end
       end
       if( code )
diff --git a/lib/phisol/compiler/name_expression.rb b/lib/phisol/compiler/name_expression.rb
index 89d18b7c..5f6bcf27 100644
--- a/lib/phisol/compiler/name_expression.rb
+++ b/lib/phisol/compiler/name_expression.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ module Phisol
         # either an argument, so it's stored in message
         if( index = @method.has_arg(name))
           ret = use_reg @method.arguments[index].type
-          @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , :message , index , ret )
+          @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , :message , index + Parfait::Message.offset , ret )
           return ret
         else # or a local so it is in the frame
           index = @method.has_local( name )
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ module Phisol
             frame = use_reg :Frame
             @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , :message , :frame , frame )
             ret = use_reg @method.locals[index].type
-            @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , frame , index , ret )
+            @method.source.add_code Register.get_slot(statement , frame , index + Parfait::Frame.offset , ret )
             return ret
           end
         end