diff --git a/cue/testdata/cycle/evaluate.txtar b/cue/testdata/cycle/evaluate.txtar
index 99fb7f08074..36d568e2a26 100644
--- a/cue/testdata/cycle/evaluate.txtar
+++ b/cue/testdata/cycle/evaluate.txtar
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ Conjuncts:    299
 Disjuncts:    192
 -- out/evalalpha --
 Errors:
+closeCycle.c: structural cycle
 printCycle.a.X: structural cycle
 structCycle.c: structural cycle
 letCycleOK.t2.a.X: structural cycle:
@@ -138,8 +139,6 @@ disjunctionCycle.b: cannot use 1 (type int) as type list:
     ./in.cue:56:9
 b: structural cycle:
     ./in.cue:62:6
-closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-    ./in.cue:73:11
 structural cycle:
     ./in.cue:85:12
 listAddCycle.c: structural cycle:
@@ -252,17 +251,15 @@ Result:
   }
   closeCycle: (_|_){
     // [structural cycle]
-    a: (_|_){
-      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-      //     ./in.cue:73:11
-    }
+    a: ~(closeCycle.b)
     b: (_|_){
-      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-      //     ./in.cue:73:11
+      // [structural cycle]
+      d: (_|_){
+        // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle
+      }
     }
     c: (_|_){
-      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-      //     ./in.cue:73:11
+      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle
     }
   }
   structCycle: (_|_){
@@ -353,7 +350,7 @@ Result:
 diff old new
 --- old
 +++ new
-@@ -1,50 +1,50 @@
+@@ -1,50 +1,49 @@
  Errors:
 -closeCycle.a: structural cycle
 -closeCycle.b.d: structural cycle
@@ -368,6 +365,7 @@ diff old new
 -disjunctionCycle.a: cannot use 1 (type int) as type list:
 -    ./in.cue:56:5
 -    ./in.cue:56:9
++closeCycle.c: structural cycle
 +printCycle.a.X: structural cycle
 +structCycle.c: structural cycle
 +letCycleOK.t2.a.X: structural cycle:
@@ -382,7 +380,7 @@ diff old new
 -    ./in.cue:56:9
  b: structural cycle:
      ./in.cue:62:6
- closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
+-closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
 -    ./in.cue:73:15
 -structCycle.c: structural cycle:
 -    ./in.cue:79:14
@@ -390,7 +388,6 @@ diff old new
 -    ./in.cue:85:11
 -printCycle.a.X.X: structural cycle:
 -    ./in.cue:113:6
-+    ./in.cue:73:11
 +structural cycle:
 +    ./in.cue:85:12
 +listAddCycle.c: structural cycle:
@@ -431,7 +428,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -59,20 +59,16 @@
+@@ -59,20 +58,16 @@
            // [structural cycle] letCycleFail.t1.a.X: structural cycle
          }
          c: (_|_){
@@ -462,7 +459,7 @@ diff old new
          }
          x: (struct){
            y: (string){ "" }
-@@ -88,17 +84,17 @@
+@@ -88,17 +83,17 @@
    disjunctionCycle: (_|_){
      // [eval]
      a: (_|_){
@@ -491,7 +488,7 @@ diff old new
        //     ./in.cue:56:5
        //     ./in.cue:56:9
      }
-@@ -124,80 +120,79 @@
+@@ -124,80 +119,77 @@
      }
      b: (struct){
      }
@@ -503,7 +500,7 @@ diff old new
    }
    closeCycle: (_|_){
      // [structural cycle]
-     a: (_|_){
+-    a: (_|_){
 -      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.a: structural cycle
 -    }
 -    b: (_|_){
@@ -515,16 +512,15 @@ diff old new
 -    c: (_|_){
 -      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
 -      //     ./in.cue:73:15
-+      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-+      //     ./in.cue:73:11
-+    }
++    a: ~(closeCycle.b)
 +    b: (_|_){
-+      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-+      //     ./in.cue:73:11
++      // [structural cycle]
++      d: (_|_){
++        // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle
++      }
 +    }
 +    c: (_|_){
-+      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle:
-+      //     ./in.cue:73:11
++      // [structural cycle] closeCycle.c: structural cycle
      }
    }
    structCycle: (_|_){
@@ -622,7 +618,7 @@ diff old new
      }
    }
    closeFail: (_|_){
-@@ -207,21 +202,22 @@
+@@ -207,21 +199,22 @@
      }
      x: (_|_){
        // [eval]
diff --git a/cue/testdata/cycle/inline_non_recursive.txtar b/cue/testdata/cycle/inline_non_recursive.txtar
index 116f5335fd0..0a7ca8ad733 100644
--- a/cue/testdata/cycle/inline_non_recursive.txtar
+++ b/cue/testdata/cycle/inline_non_recursive.txtar
@@ -58,19 +58,45 @@ issue1708: {
 	k20: (#add10 & {in: k10}).out
 	k30: (#add10 & {in: k20}).out
 }
-
+-- issue3182.cue --
+issue3182: {
+	first: t1: {
+		x: { a: x }.a
+	}
+	first: t2: {
+		x: { a: b: x }.a
+	}
+	second: {
+		{ t: x }.t.y
+		x: y: x: y: a: 1
+	}
+	third: {
+		{
+			p: {
+			  x: p
+			  y: 1
+			}
+		}.p.x.y
+	}
+}
 -- out/evalalpha/stats --
-Leaks:  209
+Leaks:  250
 Freed:  0
 Reused: 0
-Allocs: 209
+Allocs: 250
 Retain: 0
 
-Unifications: 194
-Conjuncts:    1034
+Unifications: 240
+Conjuncts:    1277
 Disjuncts:    0
 -- out/evalalpha --
-(struct){
+Errors:
+issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle:
+    ./issue3182.cue:6:6
+
+Result:
+(_|_){
+  // [structural cycle]
   ok1: (struct){
     f: (struct){
       in: (number){ number }
@@ -133,34 +159,75 @@ Disjuncts:    0
     k20: (int){ 20 }
     k30: (int){ 30 }
   }
+  issue3182: (_|_){
+    // [structural cycle]
+    first: (_|_){
+      // [structural cycle]
+      t1: (struct){
+        x: (_){ _ }
+      }
+      t2: (_|_){
+        // [structural cycle]
+        x: (_|_){
+          // [structural cycle]
+          b: (_|_){
+            // [structural cycle] issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle:
+            //     ./issue3182.cue:6:6
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    second: (struct){
+      x: (struct){
+        y: (struct){
+          x: (struct){
+            y: (struct){
+              a: (int){ 1 }
+            }
+          }
+          a: (int){ 1 }
+        }
+      }
+      a: (int){ 1 }
+    }
+    third: (int){ 1 }
+  }
 }
 -- diff/-out/evalalpha/stats<==>+out/eval/stats --
 diff old new
 --- old
 +++ new
 @@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
--Leaks:  291
--Freed:  389
--Reused: 379
--Allocs: 301
--Retain: 1047
-+Leaks:  209
+-Leaks:  306
+-Freed:  405
+-Reused: 401
+-Allocs: 310
+-Retain: 1066
++Leaks:  250
 +Freed:  0
 +Reused: 0
-+Allocs: 209
++Allocs: 250
 +Retain: 0
  
--Unifications: 680
--Conjuncts:    2709
--Disjuncts:    1414
-+Unifications: 194
-+Conjuncts:    1034
+-Unifications: 711
+-Conjuncts:    2759
+-Disjuncts:    1446
++Unifications: 240
++Conjuncts:    1277
 +Disjuncts:    0
 -- diff/-out/evalalpha<==>+out/eval --
 diff old new
 --- old
 +++ new
-@@ -48,14 +48,12 @@
+@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+ Errors:
+-issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle
++issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle:
++    ./issue3182.cue:6:6
+ 
+ Result:
+ (_|_){
+@@ -53,14 +54,12 @@
            // [incomplete] issue1708.#add10.a10.o: non-concrete value number in operand to +:
            //     ./in.cue:52:20
            //     ./in.cue:51:7
@@ -176,21 +243,36 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      k00: (int){ 0 }
+@@ -80,7 +79,8 @@
+         x: (_|_){
+           // [structural cycle]
+           b: (_|_){
+-            // [structural cycle] issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle
++            // [structural cycle] issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle:
++            //     ./issue3182.cue:6:6
+           }
+         }
+       }
 -- diff/todo/p3 --
 Error positions.
 Incorrect path due to structure sharing.
 -- out/eval/stats --
-Leaks:  291
-Freed:  389
-Reused: 379
-Allocs: 301
-Retain: 1047
+Leaks:  306
+Freed:  405
+Reused: 401
+Allocs: 310
+Retain: 1066
 
-Unifications: 680
-Conjuncts:    2709
-Disjuncts:    1414
+Unifications: 711
+Conjuncts:    2759
+Disjuncts:    1446
 -- out/eval --
-(struct){
+Errors:
+issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle
+
+Result:
+(_|_){
+  // [structural cycle]
   ok1: (struct){
     f: (struct){
       in: (number){ number }
@@ -255,6 +337,38 @@ Disjuncts:    1414
     k20: (int){ 20 }
     k30: (int){ 30 }
   }
+  issue3182: (_|_){
+    // [structural cycle]
+    first: (_|_){
+      // [structural cycle]
+      t1: (struct){
+        x: (_){ _ }
+      }
+      t2: (_|_){
+        // [structural cycle]
+        x: (_|_){
+          // [structural cycle]
+          b: (_|_){
+            // [structural cycle] issue3182.first.t2.x.b: structural cycle
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    second: (struct){
+      x: (struct){
+        y: (struct){
+          x: (struct){
+            y: (struct){
+              a: (int){ 1 }
+            }
+          }
+          a: (int){ 1 }
+        }
+      }
+      a: (int){ 1 }
+    }
+    third: (int){ 1 }
+  }
 }
 -- out/compile --
 --- in.cue
@@ -368,3 +482,46 @@ Disjuncts:    1414
     }).out
   }
 }
+--- issue3182.cue
+{
+  issue3182: {
+    first: {
+      t1: {
+        x: {
+          a: 〈1;x〉
+        }.a
+      }
+    }
+    first: {
+      t2: {
+        x: {
+          a: {
+            b: 〈2;x〉
+          }
+        }.a
+      }
+    }
+    second: {
+      {
+        t: 〈1;x〉
+      }.t.y
+      x: {
+        y: {
+          x: {
+            y: {
+              a: 1
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    third: {
+      {
+        p: {
+          x: 〈1;p〉
+          y: 1
+        }
+      }.p.x.y
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cue/testdata/cycle/structural.txtar b/cue/testdata/cycle/structural.txtar
index 307fe4bf62e..aa6ba1a0588 100644
--- a/cue/testdata/cycle/structural.txtar
+++ b/cue/testdata/cycle/structural.txtar
@@ -621,7 +621,6 @@ b7.b.0.0: conflicting values 1 and [a] (mismatched types int and list):
 b7.b.0.0.0: structural cycle
 c1.a.c: structural cycle
 d1.r: structural cycle
-d3.x.0: structural cycle
 e1.a.c: structural cycle
 e1.b.c: structural cycle
 e2.a.c: structural cycle
@@ -686,6 +685,8 @@ patternFail.issue2374.a.b: structural cycle
 shortPathFail.elipsis.t2.Foo.ref: structural cycle
 withLetFail._schema_1: structural cycle
 z1.z.g.h: structural cycle
+d3.x.0: structural cycle:
+    ./in.cue:317:13
 3: structural cycle:
     ./in.cue:371:9
 e4.a.0.0: cannot combine regular field "c" with [1,{c:1} & (a|{}) & [{c:1}]]:
@@ -1273,12 +1274,14 @@ Result:
         b: (_|_){
           // [structural cycle]
           c: (_|_){
-            // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle
+            // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle:
+            //     ./in.cue:317:13
           }
         }
       }
       indirect: (_|_){
-        // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle
+        // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle:
+        //     ./in.cue:317:13
       }
     }
   }
@@ -1775,7 +1778,7 @@ Result:
 diff old new
 --- old
 +++ new
-@@ -4,22 +4,26 @@
+@@ -4,22 +4,25 @@
  b12b.#list.tail: structural cycle
  b13.root.a.0.0: structural cycle
  b14.root.b.1.1: structural cycle
@@ -1805,11 +1808,10 @@ diff old new
 +b7.b.0.0.0: structural cycle
 +c1.a.c: structural cycle
 +d1.r: structural cycle
-+d3.x.0: structural cycle
  e1.a.c: structural cycle
  e1.b.c: structural cycle
  e2.a.c: structural cycle
-@@ -32,61 +36,84 @@
+@@ -32,61 +35,86 @@
      ./in.cue:403:5
      ./in.cue:404:5
  e3.b.c: structural cycle
@@ -1892,6 +1894,8 @@ diff old new
 -    ./in.cue:301:26
 -d3.x.indirect: structural cycle:
 -    ./in.cue:316:12
++d3.x.0: structural cycle:
++    ./in.cue:317:13
 +3: structural cycle:
 +    ./in.cue:371:9
 +e4.a.0.0: cannot combine regular field "c" with [1,{c:1} & (a|{}) & [{c:1}]]:
@@ -1921,7 +1925,7 @@ diff old new
  
  Result:
  (_|_){
-@@ -128,10 +155,7 @@
+@@ -128,10 +156,7 @@
    a7: (struct){
      a: (string){ "foo" }
      b: (struct){
@@ -1933,7 +1937,7 @@ diff old new
        y: (string){ "foo" }
      }
      c: (struct){
-@@ -168,11 +192,17 @@
+@@ -168,11 +193,17 @@
      }
    }
    b4: (_|_){
@@ -1956,7 +1960,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      x: (_|_){
-@@ -240,10 +270,9 @@
+@@ -240,10 +271,9 @@
          // [eval]
          0: (_|_){
            // [eval] b6.b.a.0: conflicting values 1 and [1] (mismatched types int and list):
@@ -1968,7 +1972,7 @@ diff old new
            0: (_|_){
              // [structural cycle] b6.b.a.0.0: structural cycle
            }
-@@ -261,11 +290,20 @@
+@@ -261,11 +291,20 @@
      }
    }
    b7: (_|_){
@@ -1994,7 +1998,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      a: (_|_){
-@@ -276,9 +314,7 @@
+@@ -276,9 +315,7 @@
      }
    }
    b8: (struct){
@@ -2005,7 +2009,7 @@ diff old new
      a: (struct){
        f: (string){ string }
      }
-@@ -304,7 +340,7 @@
+@@ -304,7 +341,7 @@
      #ref: (#struct){
        ref: (string){ string }
      }
@@ -2014,7 +2018,7 @@ diff old new
          c: (#list){
            0: ((string|struct)){ |((string){ string }, (#struct){
                ref: (string){ string }
-@@ -327,7 +363,13 @@
+@@ -327,7 +364,13 @@
          }) }
      }
      c: (#struct){
@@ -2029,7 +2033,7 @@ diff old new
      }
      d: (struct){
        d: (struct){
-@@ -337,9 +379,7 @@
+@@ -337,9 +380,7 @@
    }
    b11: (struct){
      #list: (#struct){
@@ -2040,7 +2044,7 @@ diff old new
      }
    }
    b12: (struct){
-@@ -356,7 +396,11 @@
+@@ -356,7 +397,11 @@
            value: (int){ 3 }
            tail: (#struct){
              value: (int){ 4 }
@@ -2053,7 +2057,7 @@ diff old new
              sum: (int){ 4 }
            }
            sum: (int){ 7 }
-@@ -428,10 +472,7 @@
+@@ -428,10 +473,7 @@
            link: (#struct){
              a: (#struct){
                two: (#struct){
@@ -2065,7 +2069,7 @@ diff old new
                }
              }
            }
-@@ -505,10 +546,7 @@
+@@ -505,10 +547,7 @@
            link: (#struct){
              a: (#list){
                0: (#struct){
@@ -2077,7 +2081,7 @@ diff old new
                }
              }
            }
-@@ -578,12 +616,7 @@
+@@ -578,12 +617,7 @@
        b: (struct){
        }
        c: (_|_){
@@ -2091,7 +2095,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -599,56 +632,26 @@
+@@ -599,56 +633,26 @@
              // [structural cycle]
              h: (int){ int }
              t: (_|_){
@@ -2168,7 +2172,7 @@ diff old new
          }
        }
      }
-@@ -666,28 +669,25 @@
+@@ -666,28 +670,27 @@
      }
      x: (_|_){
        // [structural cycle]
@@ -2179,7 +2183,8 @@ diff old new
            // [structural cycle]
            c: (_|_){
 -            // [structural cycle] d3.x.a.b.c: structural cycle
-+            // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle
++            // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle:
++            //     ./in.cue:317:13
            }
          }
        }
@@ -2188,7 +2193,8 @@ diff old new
 -        //     ./in.cue:316:12
 -      }
 -      i: (int){ 0 }
-+        // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle
++        // [structural cycle] d3.x.0: structural cycle:
++        //     ./in.cue:317:13
 +      }
      }
    }
@@ -2202,7 +2208,7 @@ diff old new
        #List: (#struct){
          Next: (null){ null }
        }
-@@ -696,9 +696,7 @@
+@@ -696,9 +699,7 @@
        // [structural cycle]
        t1: (struct){
          #Foo: (#struct){
@@ -2213,7 +2219,7 @@ diff old new
          }
        }
        t2: (_|_){
-@@ -706,10 +704,7 @@
+@@ -706,10 +707,7 @@
          Foo: (_|_){
            // [structural cycle]
            ref: (_|_){
@@ -2225,7 +2231,7 @@ diff old new
            }
          }
        }
-@@ -716,9 +711,7 @@
+@@ -716,9 +714,7 @@
      }
      comprehension: (struct){
        #list: (#struct){
@@ -2236,7 +2242,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -740,12 +733,11 @@
+@@ -740,12 +736,11 @@
      schema: (_|_){
        // [structural cycle]
        next: (_|_){
@@ -2251,7 +2257,7 @@ diff old new
      }
    }
    fieldsSumInfinite: (_|_){
-@@ -756,7 +748,8 @@
+@@ -756,7 +751,8 @@
        fries: (float){ 2.00 }
        sprite: (float){ 1.00 }
        total: (_|_){
@@ -2261,7 +2267,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -771,9 +764,7 @@
+@@ -771,9 +767,7 @@
        head: (int){ 3 }
        tail: (struct){
          head: (int){ 2 }
@@ -2272,7 +2278,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -813,11 +804,12 @@
+@@ -813,11 +807,12 @@
        // [eval] e3.a: conflicting values [a] and {c:a} (mismatched types list and struct):
        //     ./in.cue:400:5
        //     ./in.cue:401:5
@@ -2290,7 +2296,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      b: (_|_){
-@@ -824,11 +816,12 @@
+@@ -824,11 +819,12 @@
        // [eval] e3.b: conflicting values [b] and {c:b} (mismatched types list and struct):
        //     ./in.cue:403:5
        //     ./in.cue:404:5
@@ -2308,7 +2314,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -837,41 +830,63 @@
+@@ -837,41 +833,63 @@
      a: (_|_){
        // [eval]
        0: (_|_){
@@ -2403,7 +2409,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -894,19 +909,14 @@
+@@ -894,19 +912,14 @@
        y: (_|_){
          // [eval]
          0: (_|_){
@@ -2426,7 +2432,7 @@ diff old new
          }
          1: (int){ 1 }
        }
-@@ -916,19 +926,14 @@
+@@ -916,19 +929,14 @@
        y: (_|_){
          // [eval]
          0: (_|_){
@@ -2449,7 +2455,7 @@ diff old new
          }
          1: (int){ 1 }
        }
-@@ -981,7 +986,10 @@
+@@ -981,7 +989,10 @@
          head: (int){ 3 }
          tail: (struct){
            head: (int){ 4 }
@@ -2461,7 +2467,7 @@ diff old new
          }
        }
      }
-@@ -995,7 +1003,10 @@
+@@ -995,7 +1006,10 @@
        head: (int){ 2 }
        tail: (struct){
          head: (int){ 3 }
@@ -2473,7 +2479,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -1009,8 +1020,12 @@
+@@ -1009,8 +1023,12 @@
        head: (int){ 2 }
        tail: (struct){ |((struct){
            head: (int){ 3 }
@@ -2488,7 +2494,7 @@ diff old new
          }, (struct){
            head: (int){ 3 }
          }) }
-@@ -1032,9 +1047,7 @@
+@@ -1032,9 +1050,7 @@
        // [structural cycle]
        f: (_|_){
          // [structural cycle]
@@ -2499,7 +2505,7 @@ diff old new
        }
        g: (_|_){
          // [structural cycle]
-@@ -1055,10 +1068,7 @@
+@@ -1055,10 +1071,7 @@
            x: (_){ _ }
            y: (_){ _ }
          }
@@ -2511,7 +2517,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      t2: (struct){
-@@ -1071,10 +1081,7 @@
+@@ -1071,10 +1084,7 @@
            x: (_){ _ }
            y: (_){ _ }
          }
@@ -2523,7 +2529,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      t3: (struct){
-@@ -1089,16 +1096,8 @@
+@@ -1089,16 +1099,8 @@
            y: (_){ _ }
            z: (_){ _ }
          }
@@ -2542,7 +2548,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      t4: (struct){
-@@ -1114,51 +1113,11 @@
+@@ -1114,51 +1116,11 @@
              y: (_){ _ }
              z: (_){ _ }
            }
@@ -2599,7 +2605,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
      t5: (struct){
-@@ -1169,6 +1128,7 @@
+@@ -1169,6 +1131,7 @@
          }
        }
        C: (struct){
@@ -2607,7 +2613,7 @@ diff old new
          y: (struct){
            y: (_|_){
              // [incomplete] crossRefNoCycle.t5.C.y.y: undefined field: x:
-@@ -1175,12 +1135,6 @@
+@@ -1175,12 +1138,6 @@
              //     ./in.cue:544:8
            }
          }
@@ -2620,7 +2626,7 @@ diff old new
        }
      }
    }
-@@ -1203,19 +1157,19 @@
+@@ -1203,19 +1160,19 @@
      }
    }
    n4: (struct){
diff --git a/cue/testdata/eval/conjuncts.txtar b/cue/testdata/eval/conjuncts.txtar
index 0104c8e4e93..718bee28c69 100644
--- a/cue/testdata/eval/conjuncts.txtar
+++ b/cue/testdata/eval/conjuncts.txtar
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ issue2355: {
 }
 
 -- out/evalalpha/stats --
-Leaks:  192
+Leaks:  191
 Freed:  24
 Reused: 24
-Allocs: 192
+Allocs: 191
 Retain: 0
 
-Unifications: 46
-Conjuncts:    372
+Unifications: 44
+Conjuncts:    361
 Disjuncts:    126
 -- out/evalalpha --
 Errors:
@@ -168,17 +168,17 @@ diff old new
 -Reused: 59
 -Allocs: 18
 -Retain: 22
-+Leaks:  192
++Leaks:  191
 +Freed:  24
 +Reused: 24
-+Allocs: 192
++Allocs: 191
 +Retain: 0
  
 -Unifications: 45
 -Conjuncts:    135
 -Disjuncts:    86
-+Unifications: 46
-+Conjuncts:    372
++Unifications: 44
++Conjuncts:    361
 +Disjuncts:    126
 -- diff/-out/evalalpha<==>+out/eval --
 diff old new
diff --git a/internal/core/adt/context.go b/internal/core/adt/context.go
index 5a38bfd3214..d6b867a70b7 100644
--- a/internal/core/adt/context.go
+++ b/internal/core/adt/context.go
@@ -909,6 +909,10 @@ func (c *OpContext) unifyNode(v Expr, state combinedFlags) (result Value) {
 
 		if c.isDevVersion() {
 			if n := v.getState(c); n != nil {
+				// A lookup counts as new structure. See the commend in Section
+				// "Lookups in inline cycles" in cycle.go.
+				n.hasNonCycle = true
+
 				// Always yield to not get spurious errors.
 				n.process(arcTypeKnown, yield)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/core/adt/cycle.go b/internal/core/adt/cycle.go
index 520f56c156d..e9725490e73 100644
--- a/internal/core/adt/cycle.go
+++ b/internal/core/adt/cycle.go
@@ -315,6 +315,16 @@ package adt
 // structural cycles to such nodes as "reference cycles". As pattern constraints
 // are optional, it is safe to ignore such errors.
 //
+// ### Lookups in inline cycles
+//
+// A lookup, especially in inline cycles, should be considered evidence of
+// non-cyclicity. Consider the following example:
+//
+// 		{ p: { x: p, y: 1 } }.p.x.y
+//
+// without considering a lookup as evidence of non-cyclicity, this would be
+// resulting in a structural cycle.
+//
 // ## CORRECTNESS
 //
 // ### The algorithm will terminate
diff --git a/internal/core/adt/expr.go b/internal/core/adt/expr.go
index 68c26287ed7..5071fca7099 100644
--- a/internal/core/adt/expr.go
+++ b/internal/core/adt/expr.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (x *StructLit) evaluate(c *OpContext, state combinedFlags) Value {
 	//
 	// v.completeArcs(c, state)
 
-	v.CompleteArcs(c)
+	v.CompleteArcsOnly(c)
 	return v
 }
 
@@ -2097,7 +2097,9 @@ func (x *ForClause) yield(s *compState) {
 
 		if c.isDevVersion() {
 			// TODO(evalv3): See comment in StructLit.evaluate.
-			c.require(a, arcTypeKnown)
+			if state := a.getState(c); state != nil {
+				state.process(arcTypeKnown, attemptOnly)
+			}
 		} else {
 			if !a.isDefined() {
 				a.Finalize(c)
diff --git a/internal/core/adt/share.go b/internal/core/adt/share.go
index 7da9615912b..2f9c4816f52 100644
--- a/internal/core/adt/share.go
+++ b/internal/core/adt/share.go
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ func (n *nodeContext) share(c Conjunct, arc *Vertex, id CloseInfo) {
 	if arc.IsDetached() && !arc.anonymous { // Second check necessary  ? XXX
 		// If the status is just "conjuncts", we could just take over the arcs.
 		arc.Parent = n.node.Parent
+		arc.Finalize(n.ctx)
 		for _, a := range arc.Arcs {
 			a.Parent = n.node
 		}
diff --git a/internal/core/adt/unify.go b/internal/core/adt/unify.go
index 8bd9560b96b..fa90d1f32db 100644
--- a/internal/core/adt/unify.go
+++ b/internal/core/adt/unify.go
@@ -134,6 +134,15 @@ func (v *Vertex) unify(c *OpContext, needs condition, mode runMode) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
+	// Note that the state of a node can be removed before the node is.
+	// This happens with the close builtin, for instance.
+	// See TestFromAPI in pkg export.
+	// TODO(evalv3): find something more principled.
+	if v.state == nil && v.cc() != nil && v.cc().conjunctCount == 0 {
+		v.status = finalized
+		return true
+	}
+
 	n := v.getState(c)
 	if n == nil {
 		return true // already completed
@@ -659,6 +668,10 @@ func (v *Vertex) lookup(c *OpContext, pos token.Pos, f Feature, flags combinedFl
 			}
 		}
 
+		// A lookup counts as new structure. See the commend in Section
+		// "Lookups in inline cycles" in cycle.go.
+		state.hasNonCycle = true
+
 		// TODO: ideally this should not be run at this point. Consider under
 		// which circumstances this is still necessary, and at least ensure
 		// this will not be run if node v currently has a running task.