diff --git a/PWire.cc b/PWire.cc
index e50e29f80..79db562eb 100644
--- a/PWire.cc
+++ b/PWire.cc
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ bool PWire::set_wire_type(NetNet::Type t)
 		  isint_ = true;
 		  return true;
 	    }
+	    if (t == NetNet::IMPLICIT_REG) return true;
 	    return false;
 	  case NetNet::REG:
 	    if (t == NetNet::INTEGER) {
diff --git a/elab_expr.cc b/elab_expr.cc
index cb9a88158..224b7da6a 100644
--- a/elab_expr.cc
+++ b/elab_expr.cc
@@ -5397,12 +5397,11 @@ NetExpr* PENewArray::elaborate_expr(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
       return tmp;
 }
 
-/*
- * This method should never actually be called.
- */
-NetExpr* PENewArray::elaborate_expr(Design*, NetScope*, unsigned, unsigned) const
+NetExpr* PENewArray::elaborate_expr(Design*des, NetScope*, unsigned, unsigned) const
 {
-      ivl_assert(*this, 0);
+      cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: The new array constructor may "
+              "only be used in an assignment to a dynamic array." << endl;
+      des->errors += 1;
       return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/elaborate.cc b/elaborate.cc
index 409b90f42..1feb9e62c 100644
--- a/elaborate.cc
+++ b/elaborate.cc
@@ -2318,8 +2318,17 @@ NetExpr* PAssign_::elaborate_rval_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 
       NetExpr*rv = rval_->elaborate_expr(des, scope, net_type, 0);
 
-      ivl_assert(*this, !is_constant_);
-      return rv;
+      if (!is_constant_ || !rv) return rv;
+
+      if (dynamic_cast<NetENew*>(rv)) return rv;
+
+      cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: "
+            "The RHS expression must be constant." << endl;
+      cerr << get_fileline() << "       : "
+            "This expression violates the rule: " << *rv << endl;
+      des->errors += 1;
+      delete rv;
+      return 0;
 }
 
 NetExpr* PAssign_::elaborate_rval_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index 4ca0c34e1..fb5177873 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -1563,6 +1563,15 @@ variable_decl_assignment /* IEEE1800-2005 A.2.3 */
 	delete[]$1;
 	$$ = tmp;
       }
+  | IDENTIFIER dimensions '=' dynamic_array_new
+      { decl_assignment_t*tmp = new decl_assignment_t;
+	tmp->name = lex_strings.make($1);
+	tmp->index = *$2;
+	tmp->expr .reset($4);
+	delete $2;
+	delete[]$1;
+	$$ = tmp;
+      }
   ;
 
 
@@ -5692,6 +5701,20 @@ register_variable
 	pform_make_var_init(@1, name, $4);
 	$$ = $1;
       }
+  | IDENTIFIER dimensions_opt '=' dynamic_array_new
+      { if (pform_peek_scope()->var_init_needs_explicit_lifetime()
+	    && (var_lifetime == LexicalScope::INHERITED)) {
+	      cerr << @3 << ": warning: Static variable initialization requires "
+			    "explicit lifetime in this context." << endl;
+	      warn_count += 1;
+	}
+	perm_string name = lex_strings.make($1);
+	pform_makewire(@1, name, NetNet::REG,
+		       NetNet::NOT_A_PORT, IVL_VT_NO_TYPE, 0);
+	pform_set_reg_idx(name, $2);
+	pform_make_var_init(@1, name, $4);
+	$$ = $1;
+      }
   ;
 
 register_variable_list
diff --git a/pform.cc b/pform.cc
index 5940616ed..000cfd1c7 100644
--- a/pform.cc
+++ b/pform.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Stephen Williams (steve@icarus.com)
+ * Copyright (c) 1998-2019 Stephen Williams (steve@icarus.com)
  * Copyright CERN 2013 / Stephen Williams (steve@icarus.com)
  *
  *    This source code is free software; you can redistribute it
@@ -2710,6 +2710,8 @@ void pform_makewire(const struct vlltype&li,
       for (list<decl_assignment_t*>::iterator cur = assign_list->begin()
 		 ; cur != assign_list->end() ; ++ cur) {
 	    decl_assignment_t* curp = *cur;
+	    pform_makewire(li, curp->name, type, NetNet::NOT_A_PORT, IVL_VT_NO_TYPE, 0);
+	    pform_set_reg_idx(curp->name, &curp->index);
 	    names->push_back(curp->name);
       }
 
@@ -2722,8 +2724,6 @@ void pform_makewire(const struct vlltype&li,
                   if (type == NetNet::REG || type == NetNet::IMPLICIT_REG) {
                         pform_make_var_init(li, first->name, expr);
                   } else {
-	                PWire*cur = pform_get_wire_in_scope(first->name);
-	                assert(cur);
 		        PEIdent*lval = new PEIdent(first->name);
 		        FILE_NAME(lval, li.text, li.first_line);
 		        PGAssign*ass = pform_make_pgassign(lval, expr, delay, str);