diff --git a/crates/compiler/alias_analysis/src/lib.rs b/crates/compiler/alias_analysis/src/lib.rs
index e84f3f3b71..b180e15d93 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/alias_analysis/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/alias_analysis/src/lib.rs
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@ fn stmt_spec<'a>(
 
             builder.add_choice(block, &cases)
         }
+        Dbg { remainder, .. } => stmt_spec(builder, interner, env, block, layout, remainder),
         Expect { remainder, .. } => stmt_spec(builder, interner, env, block, layout, remainder),
         ExpectFx { remainder, .. } => stmt_spec(builder, interner, env, block, layout, remainder),
         Ret(symbol) => Ok(env.symbols[symbol]),
diff --git a/crates/compiler/gen_dev/src/lib.rs b/crates/compiler/gen_dev/src/lib.rs
index 03c32d23e7..40ce349ec2 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/gen_dev/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/gen_dev/src/lib.rs
@@ -1107,6 +1107,7 @@ trait Backend<'a> {
                 }
             }
 
+            Stmt::Dbg { .. } => todo!("dbg not implemented in the dev backend"),
             Stmt::Expect { .. } => todo!("expect is not implemented in the dev backend"),
             Stmt::ExpectFx { .. } => todo!("expect-fx is not implemented in the dev backend"),
 
diff --git a/crates/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs b/crates/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
index d3e9fabe47..fbb55a5f72 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
@@ -2661,6 +2661,39 @@ pub fn build_exp_stmt<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             }
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable: specialized_var,
+            remainder,
+        } => {
+            if env.mode.runs_expects() {
+                let shared_memory = crate::llvm::expect::SharedMemoryPointer::get(env);
+                let region = unsafe { std::mem::transmute::<_, roc_region::all::Region>(*symbol) };
+
+                crate::llvm::expect::clone_to_shared_memory(
+                    env,
+                    scope,
+                    layout_ids,
+                    &shared_memory,
+                    *symbol,
+                    region,
+                    &[*symbol],
+                    &[*specialized_var],
+                );
+
+                crate::llvm::expect::notify_parent_dbg(env, &shared_memory);
+            }
+
+            build_exp_stmt(
+                env,
+                layout_ids,
+                func_spec_solutions,
+                scope,
+                parent,
+                remainder,
+            )
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition: cond_symbol,
             region,
diff --git a/crates/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs b/crates/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
index 9d9aaf3297..6cb0836fd5 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
@@ -714,6 +714,7 @@ impl<'a> WasmBackend<'a> {
 
             Stmt::Refcounting(modify, following) => self.stmt_refcounting(modify, following),
 
+            Stmt::Dbg { .. } => todo!("dbg is not implemented in the wasm backend"),
             Stmt::Expect { .. } => todo!("expect is not implemented in the wasm backend"),
             Stmt::ExpectFx { .. } => todo!("expect-fx is not implemented in the wasm backend"),
 
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/borrow.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/borrow.rs
index e591a2c8e4..271a02a5d2 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/borrow.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/borrow.rs
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ impl<'a> ParamMap<'a> {
                     stack.push(cont);
                 }
 
+                Dbg { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
                 Expect { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
                 ExpectFx { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
 
@@ -823,6 +824,10 @@ impl<'a> BorrowInfState<'a> {
                 self.collect_stmt(param_map, default_branch.1);
             }
 
+            Dbg { remainder, .. } => {
+                self.collect_stmt(param_map, remainder);
+            }
+
             Expect { remainder, .. } => {
                 self.collect_stmt(param_map, remainder);
             }
@@ -1007,6 +1012,7 @@ fn call_info_stmt<'a>(arena: &'a Bump, stmt: &Stmt<'a>, info: &mut CallInfo<'a>)
                 stack.push(default_branch.1);
             }
 
+            Dbg { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
             Expect { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
             ExpectFx { remainder, .. } => stack.push(remainder),
 
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/debug/checker.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/debug/checker.rs
index e4e3b82734..26471b63a9 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/debug/checker.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/debug/checker.rs
@@ -305,6 +305,9 @@ impl<'a, 'r> Ctx<'a, 'r> {
                 self.check_modify_rc(rc);
                 self.check_stmt(rest);
             }
+            &Stmt::Dbg { remainder, .. } => {
+                self.check_stmt(remainder);
+            }
             &Stmt::Expect {
                 condition,
                 region: _,
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/inc_dec.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/inc_dec.rs
index 02d282ddfc..88b1b256af 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/inc_dec.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/inc_dec.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ pub fn occurring_variables(stmt: &Stmt<'_>) -> (MutSet<Symbol>, MutSet<Symbol>)
                 stack.push(cont);
             }
 
+            Dbg {
+                symbol, remainder, ..
+            } => {
+                result.insert(*symbol);
+                stack.push(remainder);
+            }
+
             Expect {
                 condition,
                 remainder,
@@ -1200,6 +1207,26 @@ impl<'a, 'i> Context<'a, 'i> {
                 (switch, case_live_vars)
             }
 
+            Dbg {
+                symbol,
+                variable,
+                remainder,
+            } => {
+                let (b, mut b_live_vars) = self.visit_stmt(codegen, remainder);
+
+                let expect = self.arena.alloc(Stmt::Dbg {
+                    symbol: *symbol,
+                    variable: *variable,
+                    remainder: b,
+                });
+
+                let expect = self.add_inc_before_consume_all(&[*symbol], expect, &b_live_vars);
+
+                b_live_vars.extend([symbol]);
+
+                (expect, b_live_vars)
+            }
+
             Expect {
                 remainder,
                 condition,
@@ -1364,6 +1391,13 @@ pub fn collect_stmt(
             collect_stmt(cont, jp_live_vars, vars)
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol, remainder, ..
+        } => {
+            vars.insert(*symbol);
+            collect_stmt(remainder, jp_live_vars, vars)
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             remainder,
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
index 321adb8977..f400496344 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use roc_late_solve::storage::{ExternalModuleStorage, ExternalModuleStorageSnapsh
 use roc_late_solve::{resolve_ability_specialization, AbilitiesView, Resolved, UnificationFailed};
 use roc_module::ident::{ForeignSymbol, Lowercase, TagName};
 use roc_module::low_level::LowLevel;
-use roc_module::symbol::{IdentId, IdentIds, ModuleId, Symbol};
+use roc_module::symbol::{IdentIds, ModuleId, Symbol};
 use roc_problem::can::{RuntimeError, ShadowKind};
 use roc_region::all::{Loc, Region};
 use roc_std::RocDec;
@@ -1640,6 +1640,14 @@ pub enum Stmt<'a> {
         /// what happens after the expect
         remainder: &'a Stmt<'a>,
     },
+    Dbg {
+        /// The expression we're displaying
+        symbol: Symbol,
+        /// The specialized variable of the expression
+        variable: Variable,
+        /// What happens after the dbg
+        remainder: &'a Stmt<'a>,
+    },
     /// a join point `join f <params> = <continuation> in remainder`
     Join {
         id: JoinPointId,
@@ -2230,6 +2238,15 @@ impl<'a> Stmt<'a> {
                 .append(alloc.hardline())
                 .append(cont.to_doc(alloc, interner, pretty)),
 
+            Dbg {
+                symbol, remainder, ..
+            } => alloc
+                .text("dbg ")
+                .append(symbol_to_doc(alloc, *symbol, pretty))
+                .append(";")
+                .append(alloc.hardline())
+                .append(remainder.to_doc(alloc, interner, pretty)),
+
             Expect {
                 condition,
                 remainder,
@@ -6716,26 +6733,16 @@ pub fn from_can<'a>(
                 .as_mut()
                 .unwrap()
                 .fresh_unnamed_flex_var();
-            // HACK(dbg-spec-var): pass the specialized type variable along injected into a fake symbol
-            let dbg_spec_var_symbol = Symbol::new(ModuleId::ATTR, unsafe {
-                IdentId::from_index(spec_var.index())
-            });
 
-            // TODO: need to store the specialized variable of this dbg in the expectation_subs
-            let call = crate::ir::Call {
-                call_type: CallType::LowLevel {
-                    op: LowLevel::Dbg,
-                    update_mode: env.next_update_mode_id(),
-                },
-                arguments: env.arena.alloc([dbg_symbol, dbg_spec_var_symbol]),
+            let dbg_stmt = Stmt::Dbg {
+                symbol: dbg_symbol,
+                variable: spec_var,
+                remainder: env.arena.alloc(rest),
             };
 
-            let dbg_layout = layout_cache
-                .from_var(env.arena, variable, env.subs)
-                .expect("invalid dbg_layout");
-
-            let expr = Expr::Call(call);
-            let mut stmt = Stmt::Let(dbg_symbol, expr, dbg_layout, env.arena.alloc(rest));
+            // Now that the dbg value has been specialized, export its specialized type into the
+            // expectations subs.
+            store_specialized_expectation_lookups(env, [variable], &[spec_var]);
 
             let symbol_is_reused = matches!(
                 can_reuse_symbol(env, procs, &loc_condition.value, variable),
@@ -6743,23 +6750,19 @@ pub fn from_can<'a>(
             );
 
             // skip evaluating the condition if it's just a symbol
-            if !symbol_is_reused {
-                stmt = with_hole(
+            if symbol_is_reused {
+                dbg_stmt
+            } else {
+                with_hole(
                     env,
                     loc_condition.value,
                     variable,
                     procs,
                     layout_cache,
                     dbg_symbol,
-                    env.arena.alloc(stmt),
-                );
+                    env.arena.alloc(dbg_stmt),
+                )
             }
-
-            // Now that the dbg value has been specialized, export its specialized type into the
-            // expectations subs.
-            store_specialized_expectation_lookups(env, [variable], &[spec_var]);
-
-            stmt
         }
 
         LetRec(defs, cont, _cycle_mark) => {
@@ -7138,6 +7141,23 @@ fn substitute_in_stmt_help<'a>(
             }
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable,
+            remainder,
+        } => {
+            let new_remainder =
+                substitute_in_stmt_help(arena, remainder, subs).unwrap_or(remainder);
+
+            let expect = Dbg {
+                symbol: substitute(subs, *symbol).unwrap_or(*symbol),
+                variable: *variable,
+                remainder: new_remainder,
+            };
+
+            Some(arena.alloc(expect))
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             region,
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/reset_reuse.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/reset_reuse.rs
index a32a45520b..52957f4eb0 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/reset_reuse.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/reset_reuse.rs
@@ -191,6 +191,27 @@ fn function_s<'a, 'i>(
             }
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable,
+            remainder,
+        } => {
+            let continuation: &Stmt = remainder;
+            let new_continuation = function_s(env, w, c, continuation);
+
+            if std::ptr::eq(continuation, new_continuation) || continuation == new_continuation {
+                stmt
+            } else {
+                let new_refcounting = Dbg {
+                    symbol: *symbol,
+                    variable: *variable,
+                    remainder: new_continuation,
+                };
+
+                arena.alloc(new_refcounting)
+            }
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             region,
@@ -438,6 +459,34 @@ fn function_d_main<'a, 'i>(
             }
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable,
+            remainder,
+        } => {
+            let (b, found) = function_d_main(env, x, c, remainder);
+
+            if found || *symbol != x {
+                let refcounting = Dbg {
+                    symbol: *symbol,
+                    variable: *variable,
+                    remainder: b,
+                };
+
+                (arena.alloc(refcounting), found)
+            } else {
+                let b = try_function_s(env, x, c, b);
+
+                let refcounting = Dbg {
+                    symbol: *symbol,
+                    variable: *variable,
+                    remainder: b,
+                };
+
+                (arena.alloc(refcounting), found)
+            }
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             region,
@@ -656,6 +705,22 @@ fn function_r<'a, 'i>(env: &mut Env<'a, 'i>, stmt: &'a Stmt<'a>) -> &'a Stmt<'a>
             arena.alloc(Refcounting(*modify_rc, b))
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable,
+            remainder,
+        } => {
+            let b = function_r(env, remainder);
+
+            let expect = Dbg {
+                symbol: *symbol,
+                variable: *variable,
+                remainder: b,
+            };
+
+            arena.alloc(expect)
+        }
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             region,
@@ -726,6 +791,9 @@ fn has_live_var<'a>(jp_live_vars: &JPLiveVarMap, stmt: &'a Stmt<'a>, needle: Sym
         Refcounting(modify_rc, cont) => {
             modify_rc.get_symbol() == needle || has_live_var(jp_live_vars, cont, needle)
         }
+        Dbg {
+            symbol, remainder, ..
+        } => *symbol == needle || has_live_var(jp_live_vars, remainder, needle),
         Expect {
             condition,
             remainder,
diff --git a/crates/compiler/mono/src/tail_recursion.rs b/crates/compiler/mono/src/tail_recursion.rs
index 64e1553e50..9a322b6834 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/mono/src/tail_recursion.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/mono/src/tail_recursion.rs
@@ -249,6 +249,26 @@ fn insert_jumps<'a>(
             }
         }
 
+        Dbg {
+            symbol,
+            variable,
+            remainder,
+        } => match insert_jumps(
+            arena,
+            remainder,
+            goal_id,
+            needle,
+            needle_arguments,
+            needle_result,
+        ) {
+            Some(cont) => Some(arena.alloc(Dbg {
+                symbol: *symbol,
+                variable: *variable,
+                remainder: cont,
+            })),
+            None => None,
+        },
+
         Expect {
             condition,
             region,