diff --git a/compiler/mono/src/expr.rs b/compiler/mono/src/expr.rs
index 558c60b893..1197e9344d 100644
--- a/compiler/mono/src/expr.rs
+++ b/compiler/mono/src/expr.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,20 @@ struct Env<'a, 'i> {
     pub home: ModuleId,
     pub ident_ids: &'i mut IdentIds,
     pub pointer_size: u32,
+    symbol_counter: usize,
+}
+
+impl<'a, 'i> Env<'a, 'i> {
+    pub fn fresh_symbol(&mut self) -> Symbol {
+        let ident_id = self
+            .ident_ids
+            .add(format!("_{}", self.symbol_counter).into());
+        self.symbol_counter += 1;
+
+        self.home.register_debug_idents(&self.ident_ids);
+
+        Symbol::new(self.home, ident_id)
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
@@ -206,6 +220,7 @@ impl<'a> Expr<'a> {
             home,
             ident_ids,
             pointer_size,
+            symbol_counter: 0,
         };
 
         from_can(&mut env, can_expr, procs, None)
@@ -357,7 +372,7 @@ fn from_can<'a>(
                 None => {
                     // an anonymous closure. These will always be specialized already
                     // by the surrounding context
-                    let symbol = gen_closure_name(procs, &mut env.ident_ids, env.home);
+                    let symbol = env.fresh_symbol();
                     let opt_proc = specialize_proc_body(
                         env,
                         procs,
@@ -637,14 +652,6 @@ fn store_pattern<'a>(
     }
 }
 
-fn gen_closure_name(procs: &Procs<'_>, ident_ids: &mut IdentIds, home: ModuleId) -> Symbol {
-    let ident_id = ident_ids.add(format!("_{}", procs.len()).into());
-
-    home.register_debug_idents(&ident_ids);
-
-    Symbol::new(home, ident_id)
-}
-
 fn from_can_when<'a>(
     env: &mut Env<'a, '_>,
     cond_var: Variable,
@@ -935,7 +942,7 @@ fn call_by_name<'a>(
             ));
 
             // generate a symbol for this specialization
-            gen_closure_name(procs, &mut env.ident_ids, env.home)
+            env.fresh_symbol()
         }
     } else {
         opt_specialize_body = None;
diff --git a/compiler/mono/tests/test_mono.rs b/compiler/mono/tests/test_mono.rs
index 65ae5ea18e..4e29588d34 100644
--- a/compiler/mono/tests/test_mono.rs
+++ b/compiler/mono/tests/test_mono.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,92 @@ mod test_mono {
         )
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn polymorphic_identity() {
+        compiles_to(
+            r#"
+            id = \x -> x
+
+            id { x: id 0x4 }
+            "#,
+            {
+                use self::Builtin::*;
+                use Layout::Builtin;
+                let home = test_home();
+
+                let gen_symbol_3 = Interns::from_index(home, 3);
+                let gen_symbol_4 = Interns::from_index(home, 4);
+
+                CallByName(
+                    gen_symbol_3,
+                    &[(
+                        Struct {
+                            fields: &[(
+                                "x".into(),
+                                CallByName(gen_symbol_4, &[(Int(4), Builtin(Int64))]),
+                            )],
+                            layout: Layout::Struct(&[("x".into(), Builtin(Int64))]),
+                        },
+                        Layout::Struct(&[("x".into(), Builtin(Int64))]),
+                    )],
+                )
+            },
+        )
+    }
+
+    // needs LetRec to be converted to mono
+    //    #[test]
+    //    fn polymorphic_recursive() {
+    //        compiles_to(
+    //            r#"
+    //            f = \x ->
+    //                when x < 10 is
+    //                    True -> f (x + 1)
+    //                    False -> x
+    //
+    //            { x: f 0x4, y: f 3.14 }
+    //            "#,
+    //            {
+    //                use self::Builtin::*;
+    //                use Layout::Builtin;
+    //                let home = test_home();
+    //
+    //                let gen_symbol_3 = Interns::from_index(home, 3);
+    //                let gen_symbol_4 = Interns::from_index(home, 4);
+    //
+    //                Float(3.4)
+    //
+    //            },
+    //        )
+    //    }
+
+    // needs layout for non-empty tag union
+    //    #[test]
+    //    fn is_nil() {
+    //        let arena = Bump::new();
+    //
+    //        compiles_to_with_interns(
+    //            r#"
+    //                LinkedList a : [ Cons a (LinkedList a), Nil ]
+    //
+    //                isNil : LinkedList a -> Bool
+    //                isNil = \list ->
+    //                    when list is
+    //                        Nil -> True
+    //                        Cons _ _ -> False
+    //
+    //                listInt : LinkedList Int
+    //                listInt = Nil
+    //
+    //                isNil listInt
+    //            "#,
+    //            |interns| {
+    //                let home = test_home();
+    //                let var_is_nil = interns.symbol(home, "isNil".into());
+    //            },
+    //        );
+    //    }
+
     #[test]
     fn bool_literal() {
         let arena = Bump::new();