diff --git a/compiler/compiler.go b/compiler/compiler.go
index 14b45a43..a40c5b48 100644
--- a/compiler/compiler.go
+++ b/compiler/compiler.go
@@ -237,7 +237,10 @@ func Compile(pkgName string, machine llvm.TargetMachine, config *compileopts.Con
 	c.ir = ir.NewProgram(lprogram, pkgName)
 
 	// Run a simple dead code elimination pass.
-	c.ir.SimpleDCE()
+	err = c.ir.SimpleDCE()
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.mod, nil, []error{err}
+	}
 
 	// Initialize debug information.
 	if c.Debug() {
diff --git a/ir/passes.go b/ir/passes.go
index 55390cad..ea5ecccb 100644
--- a/ir/passes.go
+++ b/ir/passes.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package ir
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"go/types"
 
 	"golang.org/x/tools/go/ssa"
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ func signature(sig *types.Signature) string {
 
 // Simple pass that removes dead code. This pass makes later analysis passes
 // more useful.
-func (p *Program) SimpleDCE() {
+func (p *Program) SimpleDCE() error {
 	// Unmark all functions.
 	for _, f := range p.Functions {
 		f.flag = false
@@ -66,7 +67,14 @@ func (p *Program) SimpleDCE() {
 
 	// Initial set of live functions. Include main.main, *.init and runtime.*
 	// functions.
-	main := p.mainPkg.Members["main"].(*ssa.Function)
+	main, ok := p.mainPkg.Members["main"].(*ssa.Function)
+	if !ok {
+		if p.mainPkg.Members["main"] == nil {
+			return errors.New("function main is undeclared in the main package")
+		} else {
+			return errors.New("cannot declare main - must be func")
+		}
+	}
 	runtimePkg := p.Program.ImportedPackage("runtime")
 	mathPkg := p.Program.ImportedPackage("math")
 	taskPkg := p.Program.ImportedPackage("internal/task")
@@ -136,4 +144,6 @@ func (p *Program) SimpleDCE() {
 		}
 	}
 	p.Functions = livefunctions
+
+	return nil
 }