diff --git a/lib/ast/if_expression.rb b/lib/ast/if_expression.rb
index d58b397c..3d1a677a 100644
--- a/lib/ast/if_expression.rb
+++ b/lib/ast/if_expression.rb
@@ -1,21 +1,18 @@
 module Ast
   class IfExpression < Expression
 #    attr_reader  :cond, :if_true, :if_false
-    @@counter = 0   #naming the braches by counting mainly to get them back together in testing
     def compile frame , method
       is = cond.compile(frame , method)
       #      is.is_false(frame,method)
       # TODO should/will use different branches for different conditions. 
-      branch_name = "if_merge_#{@@counter}".to_sym
-      @@counter += 1
-      branch = Virtual::ImplicitBranch.new branch_name
+      branch = Virtual::ImplicitBranch.new "if_merge"
       method.add branch
       last = is
       if_true.each do |part|
         last = part.compile(frame,method )
         raise part.inspect if last.nil?
       end
-      merge = Virtual::Label.new(branch_name)
+      merge = Virtual::Label.new(branch.name)
       method.add merge
       branch.swap
       method.current = branch
diff --git a/lib/virtual/instruction.rb b/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
index bd9c4615..d89a35af 100644
--- a/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
+++ b/lib/virtual/instruction.rb
@@ -52,9 +52,16 @@ module Virtual
   # this is an abstract base class (though no measures are taken to prevent instantiation) and derived
   # class names indicate the actual test
   class Branch < Instruction
+    @@counter = 1   #naming the braches by counting mainly to get them back together in testing
+    # TODO, while above sounds ok at first, it messes up with different test order fails etc, as the counter will 
+    # be different. Need a better way to create a unique but repeatable name
     def initialize name , nex = nil , other = nil
       super(nex)
-      @next = nex
+      unless(name.to_s.split("_").last.to_i > 0)
+        name = "#{name}_#{@@counter}".to_sym 
+        @@counter += 1
+      end
+      @name = name
       @other = other
       if other
         label = self.next
diff --git a/test/virtual/test_methods.rb b/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
index be13db31..2016cd8d 100644
--- a/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
+++ b/test/virtual/test_methods.rb
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def ofthen(n)
   end
 end
 HERE
-      @output = [Virtual::MethodDefinition.new(:ofthen,[Virtual::Argument.new(:n,Virtual::Mystery.new())],Virtual::SelfReference.new(nil),Virtual::Local.new(:maybenot,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(667)),Virtual::MethodEnter.new(Virtual::ImplicitBranch.new(nil,Virtual::FrameSet.new(:isit,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(42),Virtual::Label.new(:if_merge_0,nil)),Virtual::FrameSet.new(:maybenot,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(667),Virtual::Label.new(:if_merge_0,nil)))))]
+      @output = [Virtual::MethodDefinition.new(:ofthen,[Virtual::Argument.new(:n,Virtual::Mystery.new())],Virtual::SelfReference.new(nil),Virtual::Local.new(:maybenot,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(667)),Virtual::MethodEnter.new(Virtual::ImplicitBranch.new(:if_merge_1,Virtual::FrameSet.new(:isit,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(42),Virtual::Label.new(:if_merge_1,nil)),Virtual::FrameSet.new(:maybenot,Virtual::IntegerConstant.new(667),Virtual::Label.new(:if_merge_1,nil)))))]
       check
   end