diff --git a/compiler/can/src/module.rs b/compiler/can/src/module.rs
index 621ce9753e..89dfdea989 100644
--- a/compiler/can/src/module.rs
+++ b/compiler/can/src/module.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    let (defs, scope1, output, symbols_introduced) = canonicalize_defs(
+    let (defs, _scope, output, symbols_introduced) = canonicalize_defs(
         &mut env,
         Output::default(),
         var_store,
diff --git a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
index 21502981ad..c7d806ef85 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
@@ -2245,10 +2245,29 @@ pub fn build_exp_stmt<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     let (value, layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(scope, symbol);
 
                     if layout.is_refcounted() {
-                        if value.is_pointer_value() {
-                            let value_ptr = value.into_pointer_value();
-                            let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, value_ptr);
-                            refcount_ptr.decrement(env, layout);
+                        match value {
+                            BasicValueEnum::PointerValue(value_ptr) => {
+                                let refcount_ptr =
+                                    PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, value_ptr);
+                                refcount_ptr.decrement(env, layout);
+                            }
+                            BasicValueEnum::StructValue(_value_struct) => {
+                                match layout {
+                                    Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Str)
+                                    | Layout::Builtin(Builtin::List(_, _))
+                                    | Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Dict(_, _))
+                                    | Layout::Builtin(Builtin::Set(_)) => {
+                                        // let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_list_wrapper(env, value_struct);
+                                        // refcount_ptr.decrement(env, layout);
+                                        eprintln!("we are likely leaking some memory, see #985 for details");
+                                    }
+                                    _ => unreachable!(
+                                        "decref on weird type, likely a closure? {:?}",
+                                        layout
+                                    ),
+                                }
+                            }
+                            _ => unreachable!("cannot be decref'd"),
                         }
                     }