diff --git a/self-host/ir_driver b/self-host/ir_driver
index 178804c..21bc172 100755
Binary files a/self-host/ir_driver and b/self-host/ir_driver differ
diff --git a/self-host/ir_emitter_core.pith b/self-host/ir_emitter_core.pith
index d103fe3..36dae52 100644
--- a/self-host/ir_emitter_core.pith
+++ b/self-host/ir_emitter_core.pith
@@ -3897,11 +3897,53 @@ fn ir_emit_assign_stmt(node: Node):
         ir_var_regs.insert(name, r)
         ir_emit("store " + ir_resolve_storage_name(name) + " " + r.to_string())
 
+# Assign to a struct field target: `obj.field = value`. Returns false if the
+# target is not a known struct field (so the caller falls back to other forms).
+fn ir_emit_field_assignment(target_idx: Int, value_idx: Int) -> Bool:
+    target := get_node(target_idx)
+    if target.kind != "field_access" or target.children.len() == 0:
+        return false
+    fname := node_value(target_idx)
+    recv_idx := target.children[0]
+    lookup_key := ir_field_lookup_key(recv_idx, fname)
+    if not ir_struct_field_index_lookup.contains_key(lookup_key):
+        return false
+    field_index := ir_unpack_field_index(ir_struct_field_index_lookup[lookup_key])
+    obj_r := ir_expr(recv_idx)
+    mut value_type := ir_checked_struct_field_type(recv_idx, fname)
+    if value_type.len() == 0:
+        value_type = ir_infer_type(value_idx)
+    value_r := ir_emit_value_for_target(value_idx, value_type)
+    ir_emit("sstore " + obj_r.to_string() + " " + field_index.to_string() + " " + value_r.to_string())
+    return true
+
+# Compound assign to a struct field: `obj.field += value` (and -=, *=, /=).
+fn ir_emit_field_compound_assignment(target_idx: Int, value_idx: Int, compound_op: String) -> Bool:
+    target := get_node(target_idx)
+    if target.kind != "field_access" or target.children.len() == 0:
+        return false
+    fname := node_value(target_idx)
+    recv_idx := target.children[0]
+    lookup_key := ir_field_lookup_key(recv_idx, fname)
+    if not ir_struct_field_index_lookup.contains_key(lookup_key):
+        return false
+    field_index := ir_unpack_field_index(ir_struct_field_index_lookup[lookup_key])
+    obj_r := ir_expr(recv_idx)
+    cur := ir_reg()
+    ir_emit_named_field_access(cur, obj_r, lookup_key, fname, ir_checked_struct_field_type(recv_idx, fname))
+    rhs := ir_expr(value_idx)
+    res := ir_reg()
+    ir_emit_simple_binary(res, compound_op, cur, rhs)
+    ir_emit("sstore " + obj_r.to_string() + " " + field_index.to_string() + " " + res.to_string())
+    return true
+
 fn ir_emit_compound_assignment(node: Node):
     op := node.value
     if op == "=" and node.children.len() >= 2:
         if ir_emit_index_assignment(node.children[0], node.children[1]):
             return
+        if ir_emit_field_assignment(node.children[0], node.children[1]):
+            return
         tn := get_node(node.children[0])
         name := tn.value
         target_type := ir_checked_target_type(node.children[0], name)
@@ -3910,6 +3952,8 @@ fn ir_emit_compound_assignment(node: Node):
         return
     compound_op := ir_compound_assignment_ir_op(op)
     if compound_op.len() > 0 and node.children.len() >= 2:
+        if ir_emit_field_compound_assignment(node.children[0], node.children[1], compound_op):
+            return
         tn := get_node(node.children[0])
         name := tn.value
         cur := ir_reg()
diff --git a/tests/cases/test_struct_field_assign.pith b/tests/cases/test_struct_field_assign.pith
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83832e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/test_struct_field_assign.pith
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# assigning to struct fields: locals, compound ops, through functions
+# (reference semantics), and from methods via implicit self
+
+struct Counter:
+    value: Int
+    label: String
+
+struct Point:
+    x: Int
+    y: Int
+
+impl Counter:
+    fn step():
+        self.value = self.value + 1
+
+    fn add(n: Int):
+        self.value += n
+
+fn bump(c: Counter):
+    c.value = c.value + 100
+
+fn main():
+    mut c := Counter(5, "hits")
+    c.value = 10
+    print("set: {c.value}")
+    c.value += 3
+    print("compound: {c.value}")
+    c.label = "changed"
+    print("label: {c.label}")
+
+    # mutation through a function persists (structs are shared handles)
+    bump(c)
+    print("after bump: {c.value}")
+
+    # mutation through methods (implicit self)
+    c.step()
+    c.step()
+    print("after steps: {c.value}")
+    c.add(20)
+    print("after add: {c.value}")
+
+    p := Point(1, 2)
+    p.x = 42
+    p.y = p.x + 1
+    print("point: {p.x},{p.y}")
diff --git a/tests/expected/test_struct_field_assign.txt b/tests/expected/test_struct_field_assign.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e074f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/expected/test_struct_field_assign.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+set: 10
+compound: 13
+label: changed
+after bump: 113
+after steps: 115
+after add: 135
+point: 42,43