diff --git a/docs/guide/exe_verilator.rst b/docs/guide/exe_verilator.rst
index 3e5545f2d..fd310b48a 100644
--- a/docs/guide/exe_verilator.rst
+++ b/docs/guide/exe_verilator.rst
@@ -644,6 +644,11 @@ Summary:
    are typically used only when recommended by a maintainer to help debug
    or work around an issue.
 
+.. option:: -fno-var-split
+
+   Do not attempt to split variables automatically. Variables explicitly
+   annotated with :option:`/*verilator&32;split_var*/` are still split.
+
 .. option:: -future0 <option>
 
    Rarely needed.  Suppress an unknown Verilator option for an option that
diff --git a/docs/guide/extensions.rst b/docs/guide/extensions.rst
index 292534f61..020ecc457 100644
--- a/docs/guide/extensions.rst
+++ b/docs/guide/extensions.rst
@@ -550,6 +550,20 @@ or "`ifdef`"'s may break other tools.
    large arrays may slow down the Verilation speed, so use this only on
    variables that require it.
 
+   Packed variables that are only referenced locally (without hiererchical
+   references) via non-overlaping, constant-indexed bit or part select
+   expressions are split automatically. This covers the somewhat comon usage
+   pattern:
+
+   .. code-block:: sv
+
+         logic [1:0][31:0] tmp;
+
+         assign tmp[0] = foo    + a;
+         assign tmp[1] = tmp[1] + b;
+         assign bar    = tmp[1] + c;
+
+
    Same as :option:`split_var` configuration file option.
 
 .. option:: /*verilator&32;tag <text...>*/
diff --git a/src/V3Options.cpp b/src/V3Options.cpp
index 04dab7502..bb1ede840 100644
--- a/src/V3Options.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Options.cpp
@@ -1356,6 +1356,7 @@ void V3Options::parseOptsList(FileLine* fl, const string& optdir, int argc,
     DECL_OPTION("-fsubst-const", FOnOff, &m_fSubstConst);
     DECL_OPTION("-ftable", FOnOff, &m_fTable);
     DECL_OPTION("-ftaskify-all-forked", FOnOff, &m_fTaskifyAll).undocumented();  // Debug
+    DECL_OPTION("-fvar-split", FOnOff, &m_fVarSplit);
 
     DECL_OPTION("-G", CbPartialMatch, [this](const char* optp) { addParameter(optp, false); });
     DECL_OPTION("-gate-stmts", Set, &m_gateStmts);
@@ -2168,6 +2169,7 @@ void V3Options::optimize(int level) {
     m_fSubst = flag;
     m_fSubstConst = flag;
     m_fTable = flag;
+    m_fVarSplit = flag;
     // And set specific optimization levels
     if (level >= 3) {
         m_inlineMult = -1;  // Maximum inlining
diff --git a/src/V3Options.h b/src/V3Options.h
index 194283c22..94284d375 100644
--- a/src/V3Options.h
+++ b/src/V3Options.h
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ private:
     bool m_fSubstConst;  // main switch: -fno-subst-const: final constant substitution
     bool m_fTable;       // main switch: -fno-table: lookup table creation
     bool m_fTaskifyAll = false;  // main switch: --ftaskify-all-forked
+    bool m_fVarSplit;    // main switch: -fno-var-split: automatic variable splitting
     // clang-format on
 
     bool m_available = false;  // Set to true at the end of option parsing
@@ -717,6 +718,7 @@ public:
     bool fSubstConst() const { return m_fSubstConst; }
     bool fTable() const { return m_fTable; }
     bool fTaskifyAll() const { return m_fTaskifyAll; }
+    bool fVarSplit() const { return m_fVarSplit; }
 
     string traceClassBase() const VL_MT_SAFE { return m_traceFormat.classBase(); }
     string traceClassLang() const { return m_traceFormat.classBase() + (systemC() ? "Sc" : "C"); }
diff --git a/src/V3SplitVar.cpp b/src/V3SplitVar.cpp
index 760bb1a1d..58c978d89 100644
--- a/src/V3SplitVar.cpp
+++ b/src/V3SplitVar.cpp
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
 
 #include "V3SplitVar.h"
 
+#include "V3AstUserAllocator.h"
 #include "V3Stats.h"
 #include "V3UniqueNames.h"
 
@@ -181,6 +182,7 @@ struct SplitVarImpl VL_NOT_FINAL {
         }
         if (varp->isSigPublic()) return "it is public";
         if (varp->isUsedLoopIdx()) return "it is used as a loop variable";
+        if (varp->isForceable()) return "it is forceable";
         return nullptr;
     }
 
@@ -392,7 +394,10 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
-using SplitVarRefsMap = std::map<AstNodeModule*, RefsInModule, AstNodeComparator>;
+struct SplitVarRefs final {
+    std::map<AstNodeModule*, RefsInModule, AstNodeComparator> m_refs;
+    std::unordered_set<AstVar*> m_hasXref;
+};
 
 class SplitUnpackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
     using VarSet = std::set<AstVar*, AstNodeComparator>;
@@ -404,7 +409,7 @@ class SplitUnpackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
     const AstNodeFTask* m_inFTaskp = nullptr;
     size_t m_numSplit = 0;
     // List for SplitPackedVarVisitor
-    SplitVarRefsMap m_refsForPackedSplit;
+    SplitVarRefs m_forPackedSplit;
     V3UniqueNames m_tempNames;  // For generating unique temporary variable names
 
     static AstVarRef* isTargetVref(AstNode* nodep) {
@@ -436,19 +441,19 @@ class SplitUnpackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
     }
     void pushDeletep(AstNode* nodep) {  // overriding VNVisitor::pusDeletep()
         UASSERT_OBJ(m_modp, nodep, "Must not nullptr");
-        m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].remove(nodep);
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].remove(nodep);
         VNVisitor::pushDeletep(nodep);
     }
     AstVar* newVar(FileLine* fl, VVarType type, const std::string& name, AstNodeDType* dtp) {
         AstVar* const varp = new AstVar{fl, type, name, dtp};
         UASSERT_OBJ(m_modp, varp, "Must not nullptr");
-        m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(varp);
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(varp);
         return varp;
     }
     AstVarRef* newVarRef(FileLine* fl, AstVar* varp, const VAccess& access) {
         AstVarRef* const refp = new AstVarRef{fl, varp, access};
         UASSERT_OBJ(m_modp, refp, "Must not nullptr");
-        m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(refp);
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(refp);
         return refp;
     }
 
@@ -539,22 +544,26 @@ class SplitUnpackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
         }
     }
     void visit(AstVar* nodep) override {
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(nodep);
         if (!nodep->attrSplitVar()) return;  // Nothing to do
         if (!cannotSplitReason(nodep)) {
             m_refs.registerVar(nodep);
             UINFO(4, nodep->name() << " is added to candidate list.\n");
         }
-        m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(nodep);
     }
     void visit(AstVarRef* nodep) override {
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(nodep);
         if (!nodep->varp()->attrSplitVar()) return;  // Nothing to do
         if (m_refs.tryAdd(m_contextp, nodep, m_inFTaskp)) {
             m_foundTargetVar.insert(nodep->varp());
         }
-        m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(nodep);
+    }
+    void visit(AstVarXRef* nodep) override {
+        UINFO(4, nodep->varp() << " Has hierarchical reference\n");
+        m_forPackedSplit.m_hasXref.emplace(nodep->varp());
     }
     void visit(AstSel* nodep) override {
-        if (VN_IS(nodep->fromp(), VarRef)) m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(nodep);
+        if (VN_IS(nodep->fromp(), VarRef)) m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(nodep);
         iterateChildren(nodep);
     }
     void visit(AstArraySel* nodep) override {
@@ -737,7 +746,7 @@ class SplitUnpackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
                     connectPort(varp, vars, nullptr);
                 }
                 varp->attrSplitVar(!cannotSplitPackedVarReason(varp));
-                m_refsForPackedSplit[m_modp].add(varp);
+                m_forPackedSplit.m_refs[m_modp].add(varp);
             } else {
                 pushDeletep(varp->unlinkFrBack());
             }
@@ -764,9 +773,9 @@ public:
     }
     ~SplitUnpackedVarVisitor() override {
         UASSERT(m_refs.empty(), "Don't forget to call split()");
-        V3Stats::addStat("SplitVar, Split unpacked arrays", m_numSplit);
+        V3Stats::addStat("SplitVar, unpacked arrays split due to attribute", m_numSplit);
     }
-    const SplitVarRefsMap& getPackedVarRefs() const { return m_refsForPackedSplit; }
+    const SplitVarRefs& getPackedVarRefs() const { return std::move(m_forPackedSplit); }
 
     // Check if the passed variable can be split.
     // Even if this function returns true, the variable may not be split
@@ -954,19 +963,27 @@ public:
 };
 
 class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
+    // NODE STATE
+    //  AstVar::user2()  -> bool. Automatically considered candidate
+    //  AstVar::user3()  -> VarInfo. Used only in findCandidates
+    const VNUser2InUse m_user2InUse;
+
     AstNetlist* const m_netp;
     const AstNodeModule* m_modp = nullptr;  // Current module (just for log)
-    int m_numSplit = 0;  // Total number of split variables
+    int m_numSplitAttr = 0;  // Number of variables split due to attribute
+    int m_numSplitAuto = 0;  // Number of variables split automatically
     // key:variable to be split. value:location where the variable is referenced.
     std::map<AstVar*, PackedVarRef, AstNodeComparator> m_refs;
     void visit(AstNodeFTask* nodep) override {
         if (!cannotSplitTaskReason(nodep)) iterateChildren(nodep);
     }
     void visit(AstVar* nodep) override {
-        if (!nodep->attrSplitVar()) return;  // Nothing to do
+        if (!nodep->attrSplitVar() && !nodep->user2()) return;  // Nothing to do
         if (const char* const reason = cannotSplitReason(nodep, true)) {
-            warnNoSplit(nodep, nodep, reason);
-            nodep->attrSplitVar(false);
+            if (nodep->attrSplitVar()) {
+                warnNoSplit(nodep, nodep, reason);
+                nodep->attrSplitVar(false);
+            }
         } else {  // Finally find a good candidate
             const bool inserted = m_refs.emplace(nodep, PackedVarRef{nodep}).second;
             if (inserted) UINFO(4, nodep->prettyNameQ() << " is added to candidate list.\n");
@@ -977,7 +994,7 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
         visit(varp);
         const auto refit = m_refs.find(varp);
         if (refit == m_refs.end()) return;  // variable without split_var metacomment
-        UASSERT_OBJ(varp->attrSplitVar(), varp, "split_var attribute must be attached");
+        UASSERT_OBJ(varp->attrSplitVar() || varp->user2(), varp, "must be a split candidate");
         UASSERT_OBJ(!nodep->classOrPackagep(), nodep,
                     "variable in package must have been dropped beforehand.");
         const AstBasicDType* const basicp = refit->second.basicp();
@@ -999,7 +1016,7 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
             iterateChildren(nodep);
             return;  // Variable without split_var metacomment
         }
-        UASSERT_OBJ(varp->attrSplitVar(), varp, "split_var attribute must be attached");
+        UASSERT_OBJ(varp->attrSplitVar() || varp->user2(), varp, "must be a split candidate");
 
         const std::array<AstConst*, 2> consts
             = {{VN_CAST(nodep->lsbp(), Const),
@@ -1013,7 +1030,10 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
                          << " [" << consts[0]->toSInt() << ":+" << consts[1]->toSInt()
                          << "] lsb:" << refit->second.basicp()->lo() << "\n");
         } else {
-            warnNoSplit(vrefp->varp(), nodep, "its bit range cannot be determined statically");
+            if (varp->attrSplitVar()) {
+                warnNoSplit(vrefp->varp(), nodep, "its bit range cannot be determined statically");
+                varp->attrSplitVar(false);
+            }
             if (!consts[0]) {
                 UINFO(4, "LSB " << nodep->lsbp() << " is expected to be constant, but not\n");
             }
@@ -1021,7 +1041,6 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
                 UINFO(4, "WIDTH " << nodep->widthp() << " is expected to be constant, but not\n");
             }
             m_refs.erase(varp);
-            varp->attrSplitVar(false);
             iterateChildren(nodep);
         }
     }
@@ -1169,6 +1188,12 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
             if (vars.size() == 1 && vars.front().bitwidth() == varp->width())
                 continue;  // No split
 
+            if (varp->attrSplitVar()) {
+                ++m_numSplitAttr;
+            } else {
+                ++m_numSplitAuto;
+            }
+
             createVars(varp, ref.basicp(), vars);  // Add the split variables
 
             updateReferences(varp, ref, vars);
@@ -1191,18 +1216,114 @@ class SplitPackedVarVisitor final : public VNVisitor, public SplitVarImpl {
             } else {  // the original variable is not used anymore.
                 VL_DO_DANGLING(varp->unlinkFrBack()->deleteTree(), varp);
             }
-            ++m_numSplit;
         }
         m_refs.clear();  // Done
     }
 
+    // Find Vars only referenced through non-overlapping constant selects,
+    // and set their user2 to mark them as split candidates
+    static void findCandidates(const RefsInModule& refSets,
+                               const std::unordered_set<AstVar*>& hasXrefs) {
+        // Inclusive index range
+        using Range = std::pair<int32_t, int32_t>;
+
+        // Store one VarInfo per AstVar via user3
+        struct VarInfo final {
+            bool ineligible = false;  // Ineligible for automatic consideration
+            std::vector<Range> ranges;  // [lsb, msb] inclusive of Sels
+        };
+        const VNUser3InUse user3InUse;
+        AstUser3Allocator<AstVar, VarInfo> varInfos;
+
+        // Gather all Sels selecting from each variable, also mark if ineligible
+        for (const AstVarRef* const vrefp : refSets.m_refs) {
+            AstVar* const varp = vrefp->varp();
+            VarInfo& info = varInfos(varp);
+            if (info.ineligible) continue;
+
+            // Function return values seem not safe for splitting, even though
+            // the code above seems like it's tryinig to handle them.
+            if (varp->isFuncReturn()) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            // Don't consider ports, we don't know what is connected to them at this point
+            if (varp->isIO()) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            // Can't split variables referenced from outside the module
+            if (hasXrefs.count(varp)) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Ineligible if it is not being Sel from
+            AstSel* const selp = VN_CAST(vrefp->firstAbovep(), Sel);
+            if (!selp || vrefp != selp->fromp()) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            // Ineligible if the selection range is not constant
+            AstConst* const lsbConstp = VN_CAST(selp->lsbp(), Const);
+            if (!lsbConstp) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            AstConst* const widthConstp = VN_CAST(selp->widthp(), Const);
+            if (!widthConstp) {
+                info.ineligible = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // All good, record the selection range
+            const int32_t lsb = lsbConstp->toSInt();
+            const int32_t msb = lsb + widthConstp->toSInt() - 1;
+            info.ranges.emplace_back(lsb, msb);
+        }
+
+        // Check the usage of each variable
+        for (AstVar* const varp : refSets.m_vars) {
+            VarInfo* const infop = varInfos.tryGet(varp);
+            if (!infop) continue;
+            // Don't consider if ineligible
+            if (infop->ineligible) continue;
+            // Sort ranges by LSB then MSB
+            std::sort(infop->ranges.begin(), infop->ranges.end(),
+                      [](const Range& a, const Range& b) {
+                          if (a.first != b.first) return a.first < b.first;
+                          return a.second < b.second;
+                      });
+            // Check for overlapping but non-identical ranges
+            bool overlap = false;
+            for (size_t i = 0; i + 1 < infop->ranges.size(); ++i) {
+                const Range& a = infop->ranges[i];
+                const Range& b = infop->ranges[i + 1];
+                // OK if the two ranges are the same
+                if (a == b) continue;
+                // OK if they don't overlap
+                if (a.second < b.first) continue;
+                // Overlap found
+                overlap = true;
+                break;
+            }
+            // If no overlapping ranges, consider it for automatic splitting
+            varp->user2(!overlap);
+        }
+    }
+
 public:
     // When reusing the information from SplitUnpackedVarVisitor
-    SplitPackedVarVisitor(AstNetlist* nodep, SplitVarRefsMap& refs)
+    SplitPackedVarVisitor(AstNetlist* nodep, SplitVarRefs fromUnpackedSplit)
         : m_netp{nodep} {
         // If you want ignore refs and walk the tne entire AST,
         // just call iterateChildren(m_modp) and split() for each module
-        for (auto& i : refs) {
+        if (v3Global.opt.fVarSplit()) {
+            for (const auto& i : fromUnpackedSplit.m_refs) {
+                findCandidates(i.second, fromUnpackedSplit.m_hasXref);
+            }
+        }
+        for (auto& i : fromUnpackedSplit.m_refs) {
             m_modp = i.first;
             i.second.visit(this);
             split();
@@ -1211,7 +1332,8 @@ public:
     }
     ~SplitPackedVarVisitor() override {
         UASSERT(m_refs.empty(), "Forgot to call split()");
-        V3Stats::addStat("SplitVar, Split packed variables", m_numSplit);
+        V3Stats::addStat("SplitVar, packed variables split due to attribute", m_numSplitAttr);
+        V3Stats::addStat("SplitVar, packed variables split automatically", m_numSplitAuto);
     }
 
     // Check if the passed variable can be split.
@@ -1247,13 +1369,13 @@ const char* SplitVarImpl::cannotSplitPackedVarReason(const AstVar* varp) {
 
 void V3SplitVar::splitVariable(AstNetlist* nodep) {
     UINFO(2, __FUNCTION__ << ": " << endl);
-    SplitVarRefsMap refs;
+    SplitVarRefs refs;
     {
         const SplitUnpackedVarVisitor visitor{nodep};
         refs = visitor.getPackedVarRefs();
     }
     V3Global::dumpCheckGlobalTree("split_var", 0, dumpTreeEitherLevel() >= 9);
-    { SplitPackedVarVisitor{nodep, refs}; }
+    { SplitPackedVarVisitor{nodep, std::move(refs)}; }
     V3Global::dumpCheckGlobalTree("split_var", 0, dumpTreeEitherLevel() >= 9);
 }
 
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_func_ref_bad.py b/test_regress/t/t_func_ref_bad.py
index 07fc79e8e..34f78aa37 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_func_ref_bad.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_func_ref_bad.py
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ import vltest_bootstrap
 
 test.scenarios('vlt')
 
-test.lint(fails=True, expect_filename=test.golden_filename)
+test.lint(verilator_flags2=["-fno-var-split"], fails=True, expect_filename=test.golden_filename)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_gate_inline_wide_noexclude_sel.py b/test_regress/t/t_gate_inline_wide_noexclude_sel.py
index 28148d585..a5f79e0f8 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_gate_inline_wide_noexclude_sel.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_gate_inline_wide_noexclude_sel.py
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ import vltest_bootstrap
 
 test.scenarios('vlt')
 
-test.lint(verilator_flags2=['--stats', '--expand-limit 5'])
+test.lint(verilator_flags2=['--stats', '--expand-limit 5', '-fno-var-split'])
 
 test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Gate excluded wide expressions\s+(\d+)', 1)
 test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Gate sigs deleted\s+(\d+)', 9)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar, packed variables split automatically\s+(\d+)', 0)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_opt_const.py b/test_regress/t/t_opt_const.py
index 29f9350f8..fa7ed5a17 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_opt_const.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_opt_const.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=["-Wno-UNOPTTHREADS", "-fno-dfg", "--stats", test.
 test.execute()
 
 if test.vlt:
-    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Const bit op reduction\s+(\d+)', 45)
+    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Const bit op reduction\s+(\d+)', 44)
+    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar, packed variables split automatically\s+(\d+)', 1)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_opt_const_dfg.py b/test_regress/t/t_opt_const_dfg.py
index eed838d28..8efffeec9 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_opt_const_dfg.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_opt_const_dfg.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=["-Wno-UNOPTTHREADS", "--stats", test.t_dir + "/t_
 test.execute()
 
 if test.vlt:
-    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Const bit op reduction\s+(\d+)', 40)
+    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'Optimizations, Const bit op reduction\s+(\d+)', 39)
+    test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar, packed variables split automatically\s+(\d+)', 1)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.out b/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.out
index e2bcffd36..6c6d38ba8 100644
--- a/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.out
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.out
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-%Error-BLKANDNBLK: t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:17:21: Unsupported: Blocked and non-blocking assignments to same variable: 't.array'
-   17 |    logic [1:0][3:0] array;
+%Error-BLKANDNBLK: t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:18:21: Unsupported: Blocked and non-blocking assignments to same variable: 't.array'
+   18 |    logic [1:0][3:0] array;
       |                     ^~~~~
-                   t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:19:25: ... Location of blocking assignment
-   19 |    always_comb array[0] = i;
+                   t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:20:25: ... Location of blocking assignment
+   20 |    always_comb array[0] = i;
       |                         ^
-                   t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:22:15: ... Location of nonblocking assignment
-   22 |      array[1] <= array[0];
+                   t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v:23:15: ... Location of nonblocking assignment
+   23 |      array[1] <= array[0];
       |               ^~
                    ... For error description see https://verilator.org/warn/BLKANDNBLK?v=latest
 %Error: Exiting due to
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v b/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v
index 2b4dbcd4d..9955a06b9 100644
--- a/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_order_blkandnblk_bad.v
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ module t (/*AUTOARG*/
    // Outputs
    o,
    // Inputs
-   clk, i
+   clk, i, idx
    );
    input clk;
    input [3:0] i;
+   input idx;
    output [3:0] o;
 
    logic [1:0][3:0] array;
@@ -21,6 +22,6 @@ module t (/*AUTOARG*/
    always @ (posedge clk)
      array[1] <= array[0];
 
-   assign o = array[1];
+   assign o = array[idx];
 
 endmodule
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_0.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_0.py
index 0c56739e3..24ed1b20d 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_0.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_0.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=['--stats', test.t_dir + "/t_split_var_0.vlt"],
 
 test.execute()
 
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split packed variables\s+(\d+)', 15)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split unpacked arrays\s+(\d+)', 27)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split automatically\s+(\d+)', 0)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 15)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+unpacked arrays split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 27)
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_2_trace.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_2_trace.py
index 0c529d123..c765a49fa 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_2_trace.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_2_trace.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=['--cc --trace --stats +define+TEST_ATTRIBUTES'],
 test.execute()
 
 test.vcd_identical(test.trace_filename, test.golden_filename)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split packed variables\s+(\d+)', 12)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split unpacked arrays\s+(\d+)', 27)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 12)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+unpacked arrays split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 27)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_3_wreal.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_3_wreal.py
index ad0e1af0e..524a7b18d 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_3_wreal.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_3_wreal.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=['--stats'])
 
 test.execute()
 
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split packed variables\s+(\d+)', 0)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split unpacked arrays\s+(\d+)', 3)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 0)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+unpacked arrays split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 3)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_4.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_4.py
index 60672ac88..57b43d1a0 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_4.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_4.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=['--stats', '-DENABLE_SPLIT_VAR=1'])
 
 test.execute()
 
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split packed variables\s+(\d+)', 1)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split unpacked arrays\s+(\d+)', 0)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 1)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+unpacked arrays split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 0)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_5.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_5.py
index 2e70a4379..1cfb7e245 100755
--- a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_5.py
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_5.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test.compile(verilator_flags2=['--stats'])
 
 test.execute()
 
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split packed variables\s+(\d+)', 0)
-test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+Split unpacked arrays\s+(\d+)', 0)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+packed variables split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 0)
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar,\s+unpacked arrays split due to attribute\s+(\d+)', 0)
 
 test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.py b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7936e760b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# DESCRIPTION: Verilator: Verilog Test driver/expect definition
+#
+# Copyright 2025 by Wilson Snyder. This program is free software; you
+# can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either the GNU
+# Lesser General Public License Version 3 or the Perl Artistic License
+# Version 2.0.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-only OR Artistic-2.0
+
+import vltest_bootstrap
+
+test.scenarios('simulator')
+
+test.compile(verilator_flags2=["--stats"])
+
+test.execute()
+
+test.file_grep(test.stats, r'SplitVar, packed variables split automatically\s+(\d+)', 1)
+
+test.passes()
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.v b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.v
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35da922e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_split_var_auto.v
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+// DESCRIPTION: Verilator: Verilog Test module
+//
+// This file ONLY is placed under the Creative Commons Public Domain, for
+// any use, without warranty, 2025 by Wilson Snyder.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
+
+`define stop $stop
+`define checkh(gotv,expv) do if ((gotv) !== (expv)) begin $write("%%Error: %s:%0d:  got=%0x exp=%0x (%s !== %s)\n", `__FILE__,`__LINE__, (gotv), (expv), `"gotv`", `"expv`"); `stop; end while(0);
+
+module t(/*AUTOARG*/
+   // Inputs
+   clk
+   );
+
+  input clk;
+
+  logic [31:0] cnt = 0;
+
+  logic [31:0] out0;
+  logic [31:0] out1;
+  logic [31:0] out2;
+  logic [31:0] out3;
+
+  // Splittable
+  sub #(.ADDEND(1), .FORCEABLE(1'b0)) sub_0(clk, cnt, out0);
+  // Unsplittable due to hierarchical reference
+  sub #(.ADDEND(2), .FORCEABLE(1'b0)) sub_1(clk, cnt, out1);
+  // Unsplittable due to hiererchical reference
+  sub #(.ADDEND(3), .FORCEABLE(1'b0)) sub_2(clk, cnt, out2);
+  // Unsplittable due to forceable attribute
+  sub #(.ADDEND(4), .FORCEABLE(1'b1)) sub_3(clk, cnt, out3);
+
+  task print();
+    // This hierarchical reference should prevent automatic splitting
+    $display("sub_2.gen_else.tmp[9]: %02d", sub_2.gen_else.tmp[9]);
+  endtask
+
+  always @(posedge clk) begin
+    `checkh(out0, cnt + 32'd10);
+    `checkh(out1, cnt + 32'd20);
+    `checkh(out2, cnt + 32'd30);
+    `checkh(out3, cnt + 32'd40);
+
+     // This hierarchical reference should prevent automatic splitting
+     $display("sub_1.gen_else.tmp[9]: %02d", sub_1.gen_else.tmp[9]);
+     print();
+
+     cnt <= cnt + 32'd1;
+
+     if (cnt == 20) begin
+         $write("*-* All Finished *-*\n");
+         $finish;
+     end
+  end
+
+endmodule
+
+module sub #(
+  parameter logic [31:0] ADDEND,
+  parameter logic FORCEABLE
+) (
+  input wire clk,
+  input logic [31:0] i,
+  output logic [31:0] o
+);
+  /* verilator lint_off UNOPTFLAT */
+  // Both branches do the same thing, difference is the 'forceable' attribute
+  if (FORCEABLE) begin : gen_then
+    wire logic [9:0][31:0] tmp /* verilator forceable */;
+    assign tmp[0] = i;
+    for (genvar n = 1; n < 10; ++n) begin
+      assign tmp[n] = tmp[n-1] + ADDEND;
+    end
+    assign o = tmp[9] + ADDEND;
+  end else begin : gen_else
+    wire logic [9:0][31:0] tmp;
+    assign tmp[0] = i;
+    for (genvar n = 1; n < 10; ++n) begin
+      assign tmp[n] = tmp[n-1] + ADDEND;
+    end
+    assign o = tmp[9] + ADDEND;
+  end
+
+  /* verilator lint_on UNOPTFLAT */
+endmodule