diff --git a/elab_lval.cc b/elab_lval.cc
index d197fb8eb..332500b23 100644
--- a/elab_lval.cc
+++ b/elab_lval.cc
@@ -605,10 +605,9 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_bit_(Design*des,
 		  cerr << get_fileline() << ": debug: "
 		       << "Bit select of string becomes character select." << endl;
 	    }
-	    if (mux)
-		  lv->set_part(mux, 8);
-	    else
-		  lv->set_part(new NetEConst(verinum(lsb)), 8);
+	    if (!mux)
+		  mux = new NetEConst(verinum(lsb));
+	    lv->set_part(mux, &netvector_t::atom2s8);
 
       } else if (mux) {
 	    ivl_assert(*this, reg->type()!=NetNet::UNRESOLVED_WIRE);
@@ -1180,6 +1179,7 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_packed_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 	// increases, and use_width shrinks.
       unsigned long off = 0;
       unsigned long use_width = struct_type->packed_width();
+      ivl_type_t member_type;
 
       pform_name_t completed_path;
       do {
@@ -1251,6 +1251,8 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_packed_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 		  return false;
 	    }
 
+	    member_type = member->net_type;
+
 	    if (const netvector_t*mem_vec = dynamic_cast<const netvector_t*>(member->net_type)) {
 		    // If the member type is a netvector_t, then it is a
 		    // vector of atom or scaler objects. For example, if the
@@ -1320,6 +1322,7 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_packed_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 
 			off += loff;
 			use_width = lwid * tail_wid;
+			member_type = nullptr;
 		  }
 
 		    // The netvector_t only has atom elements, to
@@ -1484,7 +1487,11 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_packed_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
       }
 
       if (packed_base == 0) {
-	    lv->set_part(new NetEConst(verinum(off)), use_width);
+	    NetExpr *base = new NetEConst(verinum(off));
+	    if (member_type)
+		  lv->set_part(base, member_type);
+	    else
+		  lv->set_part(base, use_width);
 	    return true;
       }
 
diff --git a/net_assign.cc b/net_assign.cc
index e586e36df..fc8ffdb55 100644
--- a/net_assign.cc
+++ b/net_assign.cc
@@ -126,10 +126,6 @@ unsigned NetAssign_::lwidth() const
 ivl_variable_type_t NetAssign_::expr_type() const
 {
       ivl_type_t ntype = net_type();
-
-      if (sig_ && sig_->data_type()==IVL_VT_STRING && base_!=0)
-	    return IVL_VT_BOOL;
-
       if (ntype)
 	    return ntype->base_type();
 
@@ -139,10 +135,14 @@ ivl_variable_type_t NetAssign_::expr_type() const
 
 ivl_type_t NetAssign_::net_type() const
 {
-	// This is a concatenation or a part select, it does not have a type
-      if (more || base_)
+	// This is a concatenation, it does not have a type
+      if (more)
 	    return nullptr;
 
+       // Selected sub-vector can have its own data type
+      if (base_)
+	    return part_data_type_;
+
       ivl_type_t ntype;
       if (nest_) {
 	    ntype = nest_->net_type();
@@ -200,6 +200,12 @@ void NetAssign_::set_part(NetExpr*base, unsigned wid,
       sel_type_ = sel_type;
 }
 
+void NetAssign_::set_part(NetExpr*base, ivl_type_t data_type)
+{
+      part_data_type_ = data_type;
+      set_part(base, part_data_type_->packed_width());
+}
+
 void NetAssign_::set_property(const perm_string&mname, unsigned idx)
 {
       member_ = mname;
diff --git a/netlist.h b/netlist.h
index aeedacf33..14e28832c 100644
--- a/netlist.h
+++ b/netlist.h
@@ -2836,6 +2836,11 @@ class NetAssign_ {
 	// that the expression calculates a CANONICAL bit address.
       void set_part(NetExpr* loff, unsigned wid,
                     ivl_select_type_t = IVL_SEL_OTHER);
+	// Set a part select expression for the l-value vector. Note
+	// that the expression calculates a CANONICAL bit address.
+	// The part select has a specific type and the width of the select will
+	// be that of the type.
+      void set_part(NetExpr *loff, ivl_type_t data_type);
 	// Set the member or property name if the signal type is a
 	// class.
       void set_property(const perm_string&name, unsigned int idx);
@@ -2905,6 +2910,7 @@ class NetAssign_ {
       NetExpr*base_;
       unsigned lwid_;
       ivl_select_type_t sel_type_;
+      ivl_type_t part_data_type_ = nullptr;
 };
 
 class NetAssignBase : public NetProc {