diff --git a/krakenGrammer.kgm b/krakenGrammer.kgm
index 1f42e8a..676b201 100644
--- a/krakenGrammer.kgm
+++ b/krakenGrammer.kgm
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 Goal = translation_unit ;
+cast_expression = "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" WS "cast" WS type ;
 translation_unit = WS unorderd_list_part WS ;
 unorderd_list_part = import WS unorderd_list_part | function WS unorderd_list_part | type_def line_end WS unorderd_list_part | adt_def line_end WS unorderd_list_part | if_comp WS unorderd_list_part | simple_passthrough WS unorderd_list_part | declaration_statement line_end WS unorderd_list_part | import | function | type_def line_end | adt_def line_end | if_comp | simple_passthrough | declaration_statement line_end ;
 
@@ -125,7 +126,8 @@ expression = expression WS "<<" WS term | expression WS right_shift WS shiftand
 shiftand = shiftand WS "-" WS term | shiftand WS "\+" WS term | term ;
 term = term WS "/" WS factor | term WS "\*" WS factor | term WS "%" WS factor | factor ;
 factor = "\+\+" WS unarad | unarad WS "\+\+" | "--" WS unarad | unarad WS "--" | "\+" WS unarad | "-" WS unarad | "!" WS unarad | "~" WS unarad | "\*" WS unarad | "&" WS unarad | unarad ;
-unarad = number | scoped_identifier | scoped_identifier WS template_inst | access_operation | function_call | bool | string | character | "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" | unarad WS "[" WS expression WS "]" | lambda ; 
+unarad = number | scoped_identifier | scoped_identifier WS template_inst | access_operation | function_call | bool | string | character | "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" | unarad WS "[" WS expression WS "]" | lambda | cast_expression ; 
+cast_expression = "\(" WS boolean_expression WS "\)" WS "cast" WS type ;
 number = integer | floating_literal ;
 access_operation = unarad WS "." WS identifier | unarad WS "->" WS identifier | unarad WS "." WS identifier WS template_inst | unarad WS "->" WS identifier WS template_inst ;
 
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ float_end = "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+" | "(0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)+f" | "(0|1|2|3|4|5
 bool = "true" | "false" ;
 character = "'(`|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|0|-|=|(\\t)|q|w|e|r|t|y|u|i|o|p|[|]|(\\\\)|a|s|d|f|g|h|j|k|l|;|(\\')|(\\n)|z|x|c|v|b|n|m|,|.|/|~|!|@|#|$|%|^|&|\*|\(|\)|_|\+|Q|W|E|R|T|Y|U|I|O|P|{|}|\||A|S|D|F|G|H|J|K|L|:|\"|Z|X|C|V|B|N|M|<|>|\?| |(\\0))'" ;
 
-keywords_also_identifiers = "obj" | "def" | "fun" | "var" | "ref" | "adt" | "import" | "simple_passthrough" ;
+keywords_also_identifiers = "obj" | "def" | "fun" | "var" | "ref" | "adt" | "cast" | "import" | "simple_passthrough" ;
 alpha_alphanumeric = "(a|b|c|d|e|f|g|h|i|j|k|l|m|n|o|p|q|r|s|t|u|v|w|x|y|z|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|_)(a|b|c|d|e|f|g|h|i|j|k|l|m|n|o|p|q|r|s|t|u|v|w|x|y|z|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|_|0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9)*" ;
 augmented_alpha_alphanumeric = alpha_alphanumeric augmented_alpha_alphanumeric | keywords_also_identifiers augmented_alpha_alphanumeric | alpha_alphanumeric | keywords_also_identifiers ;
 
diff --git a/stdlib/ast_nodes.krak b/stdlib/ast_nodes.krak
index 7255e26..d58c2b5 100644
--- a/stdlib/ast_nodes.krak
+++ b/stdlib/ast_nodes.krak
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ adt ast_node {
     if_comp: if_comp,
     simple_passthrough: simple_passthrough,
     function_call: function_call,
+    cast: cast,
     value: value
 }
 /*
@@ -960,6 +961,40 @@ obj function_call (Object) {
         return func == func && parameters == other.parameters
     }
 }
+fun ast_cast_ptr(value: *ast_node, to_type: *type): *ast_node {
+    var to_ret.construct(value, to_type): cast
+    var ptr = new<ast_node>()
+    ptr->copy_construct(&ast_node::cast(to_ret))
+    return ptr
+}
+fun is_cast(node: *ast_node): bool {
+    match(*node) {
+        ast_node::cast(backing) return true
+    }
+    return false
+}
+obj cast (Object) {
+    var value: *ast_node
+    var to_type: *type
+    fun construct(value_in: *ast_node, to_type_in: *type): *cast  {
+        value = value_in
+        to_type = to_type_in
+        return this
+    }
+    fun copy_construct(old: *cast) {
+        value = old->value
+        to_type = old->to_type
+    }
+    fun destruct() {
+    }
+    fun operator=(other: cast) {
+        destruct()
+        copy_construct(&other)
+    }
+    fun operator==(other: cast): bool {
+        return value == other.value && to_type == other.to_type
+    }
+}
 fun ast_value_ptr(string_value: string, value_type: *type): *ast_node {
     var to_ret.construct(string_value, value_type): value
     var ptr = new<ast_node>()
@@ -1024,6 +1059,7 @@ fun get_ast_children(node: *ast_node): vector<*ast_node> {
         ast_node::if_comp(backing) return vector<*ast_node>(backing.statement)
         ast_node::simple_passthrough(backing) return vector<*ast_node>()
         ast_node::function_call(backing) return vector(backing.func) + backing.parameters
+        ast_node::cast(backing) return vector<*ast_node>(backing.value)
         ast_node::value(backing) return vector<*ast_node>()
     }
 }
@@ -1051,6 +1087,7 @@ fun get_ast_name(node: *ast_node): string {
         ast_node::if_comp(backing) return string("if_comp: ") + backing.wanted_generator
         ast_node::simple_passthrough(backing) return string("simple_passthrough: , string:") + backing.passthrough_str
         ast_node::function_call(backing) return string("function_call:") + get_ast_name(backing.func) + "(" + backing.parameters.size + ")"
+        ast_node::cast(backing) return string("cast: ") + get_ast_name(backing.value) + ": " + backing.to_type->to_string()
         ast_node::value(backing) return string("value: ") + backing.string_value + ": " + backing.value_type->to_string()
     }
     return string("impossible adt type")
@@ -1079,10 +1116,11 @@ fun get_ast_scope(node: *ast_node): *map<string,vector<*ast_node>> {
 }
 fun get_ast_type(node: *ast_node): *type {
     match (*node) {
-        ast_node::identifier() return node->identifier.type
-        ast_node::function() return node->function.type
-        ast_node::function_call() return get_ast_type(node->function_call.func)->return_type
-        ast_node::value() return node->value.value_type
+        ast_node::identifier(backing) return backing.type
+        ast_node::function(backing) return backing.type
+        ast_node::function_call(backing) return get_ast_type(backing.func)->return_type
+        ast_node::cast(backing) return backing.to_type
+        ast_node::value(backing) return backing.value_type
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak b/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
index 9e50121..6fc84c5 100644
--- a/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
+++ b/stdlib/ast_transformation.krak
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ obj ast_transformation (Object) {
                 || name == "bool_exp" || name == "expression"
                 || name == "shiftand" || name == "term"
                 || name == "factor" || name == "unarad"
-                || name == "access_operation"
+                || name == "access_operation" || name == "cast_expression"
         ) {
             // for now, assume passthrough and just transform underneath
             return transform_expression(node, scope, searching_for, template_replacements)
@@ -605,6 +605,8 @@ obj ast_transformation (Object) {
         if (identifiers.size == 2) {
             var parameters = get_nodes("parameter", node).map(fun(child: *tree<symbol>): *ast_node return transform(get_node("boolean_expression", child), scope, template_replacements);)
             var method = transform(identifiers[1], identifier->identifier.type->type_def, search_type::function(parameters.map(fun(i:*ast_node):*type return get_ast_type(i);)), template_replacements)
+            if (!method)
+                error(identifiers[1], "Cannot find method for declaration site method call")
             declaration->declaration_statement.init_method_call = make_method_call(identifier, method, parameters)
         }
         return declaration
@@ -885,6 +887,8 @@ obj ast_transformation (Object) {
             func_name = concat_symbol_tree(node->children[1])
             if (func_name == "[")
                 func_name += "]"
+            if (func_name == "cast")
+                return ast_cast_ptr(transform(get_node("boolean_expression", node), scope, template_replacements), transform_type(get_node("type", node), scope, template_replacements))
             var first_param = transform(node->children[0], scope, template_replacements)
             var second_param = null<ast_node>()
             if (func_name == "." || func_name == "->") {
diff --git a/stdlib/c_generator.krak b/stdlib/c_generator.krak
index 88a899d..168e1bc 100644
--- a/stdlib/c_generator.krak
+++ b/stdlib/c_generator.krak
@@ -586,6 +586,11 @@ obj c_generator (Object) {
             var declaration = ast_declaration_statement_ptr(temp_ident, null<ast_node>())
             // have to pass false to the declaration generator, so can't do it through generate_statement
             to_ret.pre = generate_declaration_statement(declaration, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack, false).one_string() + ";\n"
+            if ((function_return_type->is_object() || temp_ident_type->is_object()) &&
+                ( (!function_return_type->is_ref && !function_return_type->equality(temp_ident_type, false)) ||
+                (function_return_type->is_ref && !function_return_type->equality(temp_ident_type->clone_with_decreased_indirection(), false)) ) )
+                // note the clone with decreased indirection because of the clone with increased indirection above
+                error(string("return type does not match: ") + function_return_type->to_string() + ", " + temp_ident_type->to_string());
             if (!function_return_type->is_ref && return_value_type->indirection == 0 && (return_value_type->is_adt() || (return_value_type->is_object() && has_method(return_value_type->type_def, "copy_construct", vector(return_value_type->clone_with_indirection(1)))))) {
                 to_ret.pre += generate_statement(ast_statement_ptr(make_method_call(temp_ident, "copy_construct", vector(make_operator_call("&", vector(return_value))))), enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack).one_string()
             } else {
@@ -658,6 +663,9 @@ obj c_generator (Object) {
         })
         return to_ret
     }
+    fun generate_cast(node: *ast_node, enclosing_object: *ast_node, enclosing_func: *ast_node, defer_stack: *stack<pair<bool,stack<*ast_node>>>, need_variable: bool): code_triple {
+        return code_triple("(") + type_to_c(node->cast.to_type) + ")(" + generate(node->cast.value, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack, false) + ")"
+    }
     fun generate_value(node: *ast_node, need_variable: bool): code_triple {
         var value = node->value.string_value
         var to_ret = string()
@@ -924,6 +932,7 @@ obj c_generator (Object) {
             ast_node::branching_statement(backing) return generate_branching_statement(node, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack)
             ast_node::defer_statement(backing) return generate_defer_statement(node, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack)
             ast_node::match_statement(backing) return generate_match_statement(node, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack)
+            ast_node::cast(backing) return generate_cast(node, enclosing_object, enclosing_func, defer_stack, need_variable)
             ast_node::value(backing) return generate_value(node, need_variable)
             ast_node::identifier(backing) return generate_identifier(node, enclosing_object, enclosing_func)
         }
diff --git a/stdlib/io.krak b/stdlib/io.krak
index 96494c5..b2a9a4b 100644
--- a/stdlib/io.krak
+++ b/stdlib/io.krak
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ fun print<T>(toPrint: *T) : void{
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%p", (void*)toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ fun print(toPrint: *char) : void {
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%s", toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ fun print(toPrint: char) : void {
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%c", toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
@@ -60,6 +63,7 @@ fun print(toPrint: int): void {
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%d", toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
@@ -69,6 +73,7 @@ fun print(toPrint: float): void {
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%f", toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
@@ -78,6 +83,7 @@ fun print(toPrint: double) : void{
 	__if_comp__ __C__ {
 		simple_passthrough(toPrint = toPrint::) """
 			printf("%f", toPrint);
+            fflush(0);
 		"""
 	}
 	return;
diff --git a/stdlib/type.krak b/stdlib/type.krak
index aa8f5cb..81c3e4b 100644
--- a/stdlib/type.krak
+++ b/stdlib/type.krak
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ obj type (Object) {
     }
     fun clone(): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection, is_ref);
     fun clone_without_ref(): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection, false);
+    fun clone_with_ref(): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection, true);
     fun clone_with_increased_indirection(): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection+1);
     fun clone_with_increased_indirection(more: int, is_ref_in: bool): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection+more, is_ref_in);
     fun clone_with_decreased_indirection(): *type return clone_with_indirection(indirection-1);
diff --git a/tests/test_conversions.krak b/tests/test_conversions.krak
index 8dcc090..56c63b0 100644
--- a/tests/test_conversions.krak
+++ b/tests/test_conversions.krak
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ fun main():int {
     println(to_int('B'))
 
     var a = 1337
-    var b = &a
-    var c = cast_ptr<*int, *char>(b)
+    var b = &a;
+    var c = (b) cast *char
+
+    /*var c = cast_ptr<*int, *char>(b)*/
     //var d = c + 1
     //var e = 1 + c
     println(to_int(*(c+0)))