diff --git a/netlist.cc b/netlist.cc
index f715d842c..6bbd88241 100644
--- a/netlist.cc
+++ b/netlist.cc
@@ -759,18 +759,14 @@ void NetNet::set_module_port_index(unsigned idx)
 
 ivl_variable_type_t NetNet::data_type() const
 {
-      if (net_type_==0)
-	    return IVL_VT_LOGIC;
-      else
-	    return net_type_->base_type();
+      ivl_assert(*this, net_type_);
+      return net_type_->base_type();
 }
 
 bool NetNet::get_signed() const
 {
-      if (net_type_==0)
-	    return false;
-      else
-	    return net_type_->get_signed();
+      ivl_assert(*this, net_type_);
+      return net_type_->get_signed();
 }
 
 bool NetNet::get_isint() const
diff --git a/netlist.h b/netlist.h
index 2f87bf56b..4e9586fc3 100644
--- a/netlist.h
+++ b/netlist.h
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ class NetNet  : public NetObj, public PortType {
 	// now, the unpacked type is not burried into an ivl_type_s object.
       explicit NetNet(NetScope*s, perm_string n, Type t,
 		      const std::list<netrange_t>&unpacked,
-		      ivl_type_t type =0);
+		      ivl_type_t type);
 
 	// This form builds a NetNet from its record/enum/darray
 	// definition. They should probably be replaced with a single
diff --git a/netmisc.cc b/netmisc.cc
index 782f637f5..6d4ccda27 100644
--- a/netmisc.cc
+++ b/netmisc.cc
@@ -751,13 +751,15 @@ NetExpr* elab_and_eval(Design*des, NetScope*scope, PExpr*pe,
             expr_width = context_width;
 
       if (debug_elaborate) {
-            cerr << pe->get_fileline() << ": debug: test_width of "
+            cerr << pe->get_fileline() << ": elab_and_eval: test_width of "
                  << *pe << endl;
-            cerr << pe->get_fileline() << ":        "
+            cerr << pe->get_fileline() << ":              : "
                  << "returns type=" << pe->expr_type()
                  << ", width=" << expr_width
                  << ", signed=" << pe->has_sign()
                  << ", mode=" << PExpr::width_mode_name(mode) << endl;
+	    cerr << pe->get_fileline() << ":              : "
+		 << "cast_type=" << cast_type << endl;
       }
 
         // If we can get the same result using a smaller expression
diff --git a/nettypes.h b/nettypes.h
index df7779edb..4f6db4199 100644
--- a/nettypes.h
+++ b/nettypes.h
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ class ivl_type_s {
       virtual long packed_width(void) const;
       virtual std::vector<netrange_t> slice_dimensions() const;
 
-	// Some types have a base variable type.
+	// Some types have a base variable type. This is the bit type
+	// for packed data types, or IVL_VT_DARRAY or IVL_VT_CLASS for
+	// those specific types.
       virtual ivl_variable_type_t base_type() const;
       virtual bool get_signed() const;