diff --git a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
index b0dacec440..14e0981be3 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/tests/gen_primitives.rs
@@ -1111,4 +1111,96 @@ mod gen_primitives {
             |_| 1
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn linked_list_len() {
+        assert_non_opt_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r#"
+                app Test provides [ main, len ] imports []
+
+                ConsList a : [ Cons a (ConsList a), Nil ]
+
+                len : ConsList a -> Int
+                len = \list ->
+                    when list is
+                        Cons _ rest -> 1 + len rest
+
+                        Nil ->
+                            0
+
+                main : ConsList Int -> Int
+                main = len
+                "#
+            ),
+            1,
+            i64,
+            |_| 1
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn linked_list_is_empty_1() {
+        assert_non_opt_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r#"
+                app Test provides [ main ] imports []
+
+                ConsList a : [ Cons a (ConsList a), Nil ]
+
+                empty : ConsList a
+                empty = Nil
+
+                isEmpty : ConsList a -> Bool
+                isEmpty = \list ->
+                    when list is
+                        Cons _ _ ->
+                            False
+
+                        Nil ->
+                            True
+
+                main : Bool 
+                main = 
+                    myList : ConsList Int
+                    myList = empty
+
+                    isEmpty myList
+                "#
+            ),
+            true,
+            bool
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn linked_list_is_empty_2() {
+        assert_non_opt_evals_to!(
+            indoc!(
+                r#"
+                app Test provides [ main ] imports []
+
+                ConsList a : [ Cons a (ConsList a), Nil ]
+
+                # isEmpty : ConsList a -> Bool
+                isEmpty = \list ->
+                    when list is
+                        Cons _ _ ->
+                            False
+
+                        Nil ->
+                            True
+
+                main : Bool 
+                main = 
+                    myList : ConsList Int
+                    myList = Cons 0x1 Nil
+
+                    isEmpty myList
+                "#
+            ),
+            false,
+            bool
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/load/src/file.rs b/compiler/load/src/file.rs
index 70876b1200..ad4b3c3b89 100644
--- a/compiler/load/src/file.rs
+++ b/compiler/load/src/file.rs
@@ -1690,6 +1690,9 @@ fn update<'a>(
 
             if state.dependencies.solved_all() && state.goal_phase == Phase::MakeSpecializations {
                 debug_assert!(work.is_empty());
+
+                Proc::insert_refcount_operations(arena, &mut state.procedures);
+
                 // display the mono IR of the module, for debug purposes
                 if roc_mono::ir::PRETTY_PRINT_IR_SYMBOLS {
                     let procs_string = state
@@ -1703,8 +1706,6 @@ fn update<'a>(
                     println!("{}", result);
                 }
 
-                Proc::insert_refcount_operations(arena, &mut state.procedures);
-
                 msg_tx
                     .send(Msg::FinishedAllSpecialization {
                         subs,
diff --git a/examples/effect/Main.roc b/examples/effect/Main.roc
index ecfaf3ae0f..687f0e4df2 100644
--- a/examples/effect/Main.roc
+++ b/examples/effect/Main.roc
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
-app Main provides [ main ] imports [ Effect ]
+app Main provides [ main ] imports [ Effect, ConsList ]
+
+empty : ConsList.ConsList Int
+empty = ConsList.empty
 
 main : Effect.Effect {} as Fx
 main =
-    Effect.always "Write a thing"
-        |> Effect.map (\line -> Str.concat line "!")
-        |> Effect.after (\line -> Effect.putLine line)
-        |> Effect.after (\{} -> Effect.getLine)
-        |> Effect.after (\line -> Effect.putLine line)
+    if ConsList.isEmpty empty then
+        Effect.putLine "Yay"
+            |> Effect.after (\{} -> Effect.getLine)
+            |> Effect.after (\line -> Effect.putLine line)
+    else
+        Effect.putLine "Nay"
+
+
+#    Effect.always "Write a thing"
+#        |> Effect.map (\line -> Str.concat line "!")
+#        |> Effect.after (\line -> Effect.putLine line)
+#        |> Effect.after (\{} -> Effect.getLine)
+#        |> Effect.after (\line -> Effect.putLine line)