diff --git a/source/quickjs.c b/source/quickjs.c
index d76ecbf9..1a27bcd1 100644
--- a/source/quickjs.c
+++ b/source/quickjs.c
@@ -31982,16 +31982,26 @@ static int mach_compile_expr(MachCompState *cs, cJSON *node, int dest) {
     cJSON *elems = cJSON_GetObjectItem(node, "list");
     int count = elems ? cJSON_GetArraySize(elems) : 0;
 
-    /* Reserve consecutive regs for elements starting at dest+1 */
+    /* Reserve consecutive regs for elements starting at arr_base+1.
+       If dest is below freereg, other temps occupy dest+1..freereg-1
+       so we must use a fresh base to avoid clobbering them. */
     int save = cs->freereg;
-    cs->freereg = dest + 1;
+    int arr_base;
+    if (dest + 1 >= cs->freereg) {
+      arr_base = dest;
+      cs->freereg = dest + 1;
+    } else {
+      arr_base = mach_reserve_reg(cs);
+    }
     for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
       int er = mach_reserve_reg(cs);
       cJSON *elem = cJSON_GetArrayItem(elems, i);
       int r = mach_compile_expr(cs, elem, er);
       if (r != er) mach_emit(cs, MACH_ABC(MACH_MOVE, er, r, 0));
     }
-    mach_emit(cs, MACH_ABC(MACH_NEWARRAY, dest, count, 0));
+    mach_emit(cs, MACH_ABC(MACH_NEWARRAY, arr_base, count, 0));
+    if (arr_base != dest)
+      mach_emit(cs, MACH_ABC(MACH_MOVE, dest, arr_base, 0));
     mach_free_reg_to(cs, save);
     return dest;
   }
@@ -32903,10 +32913,14 @@ static JSValue reg_vm_binop(JSContext *ctx, int op, JSValue a, JSValue b) {
 
   /* Comparison ops allow mixed types — return false for mismatches */
   if (op >= MACH_EQ && op <= MACH_GE) {
-    /* Fast path: bitwise-identical values (same object/pointer) */
-    if (a == b) {
-      if (op == MACH_EQ || op == MACH_LE || op == MACH_GE) return JS_TRUE;
-      if (op == MACH_NEQ) return JS_FALSE;
+    /* Fast path: identical values (chase pointers for forwarded objects) */
+    {
+      JSValue ca = JS_IsPtr(a) ? JS_MKPTR(chase(a)) : a;
+      JSValue cb = JS_IsPtr(b) ? JS_MKPTR(chase(b)) : b;
+      if (ca == cb) {
+        if (op == MACH_EQ || op == MACH_LE || op == MACH_GE) return JS_TRUE;
+        if (op == MACH_NEQ) return JS_FALSE;
+      }
     }
     if (JS_IsNumber(a) && JS_IsNumber(b)) {
       double da, db;