diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 7826bef..62f95e0 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -584,12 +584,18 @@
   - focused coverage lives in `examples/programs/errors` and the fallible ergonomics compiler test
   - leave ABI/layout/lint/design polish for later milestones
 
-23.6. contextual payload construction + inline error types
-  - implement contextual payload `.variant{...}` construction
-  - allow named fallible signatures to use inline enum / tagged-union error types
-  - settle qualified same-name disambiguation only if contextual construction needs it
+23.6. contextual payload construction + inline error types (implemented)
+  - contextual payload `.variant{expr}` construction now works in tagged-union contexts
+    (assignment, return, calls, and fallible error dispatch); bare `.variant` remains the
+    spelling for void-payload variants
+  - named fallible signatures can use inline unbacked enum and `union(enum)` error types
+    after `!`
+  - qualified same-name disambiguation remains deferred; existing ambiguous fallible return
+    diagnostics cover the current surface
 
-23.7. sum-type ABI/layout polish
+23.7. anonymous struct payloads and keyed payload sugar
+
+23.8. sum-type ABI/layout polish
   - consider dynamic tag-width shrinking after the fixed-`u16` ABI has real pressure
   - consider all-void channel collapse after fallible channels are otherwise stable
   - define cross-module/global-id ABI determinism before multi-module builds depend on it
@@ -976,7 +982,7 @@ message :: match code {
 
 Brolang handles errors as values. There is no hidden control flow — a function that can fail declares this in its signature, and the caller must explicitly handle the possibility of failure.
 
-Milestone 23 v1 implements named error channels, native sum composition, `return`-based error dispatch, exact-channel `try`, and fallback `catch`. Milestone 23.5 adds `catch |e|` blocks and `try` widening across composable error channels. It still defers the `error` keyword shorthand, inline error types, contextual payload construction, and match-on-error shorthand.
+Milestone 23 v1 implements named error channels, native sum composition, `return`-based error dispatch, exact-channel `try`, and fallback `catch`. Milestone 23.5 adds `catch |e|` blocks and `try` widening across composable error channels. Milestone 23.6 adds contextual payload construction and inline error types. It still defers the `error` keyword shorthand, anonymous struct payload sugar, and match-on-error shorthand.
 
 ### Fallible Functions
 
@@ -1048,7 +1054,25 @@ ProcessError :: alias (IoError | ParseError)
 
 ### Inline Error Types
 
-Inline error types are planned, but not part of milestone 23 v1. Use named enums, named tagged unions, or named aliases for now.
+Fallible signatures can define small private error channels inline:
+
+```
+read_count func(path []u8) i32 ! union(enum) {
+    not_found PathErrorInfo
+    timeout_ms u64
+} { ... }
+```
+
+Inline enums are also supported:
+
+```
+parse_flag func(text []u8) bool ! enum {
+    empty
+    invalid
+} { ... }
+```
+
+Use a named error type when the channel is shared or needs stable public identity.
 
 ### Returning Errors
 
@@ -1061,7 +1085,7 @@ parse_section func(p: @mut Parser) void ! ParseError {
     
     # ... parsing logic ...
     
-    if p.pos >= p.input.len or p.input[p.pos] != ']' return ParseError{ unclosed_section = start_line }
+    if p.pos >= p.input.len or p.input[p.pos] != ']' return .unclosed_section{start_line}
     
     # ... continue on success ...
 }
@@ -1071,7 +1095,7 @@ Since errors are just union values, you can also construct them separately:
 
 ```
 # Construct error value (it's just a union)
-e ParseError = ParseError{ timeout = 500 }
+e ParseError = .timeout{500}
 
 # Return it via error channel later
 return e
@@ -1157,6 +1181,7 @@ data :: read_file(path) catch |e| match e {
 | `T ! (E1 | E2)` | Planned direct spelling with parentheses; use a named alias in v1 |
 | `return e` | Exit function via error channel when `e : E` |
 | `error e` | Planned shorthand, not v1 |
+| `.variant{payload}` | Construct a payload-carrying tagged-union variant from context |
 | `error .variant{...}` | Planned shorthand, not v1 |
 | `try expr` | Unwrap success or propagate an exact/sum-widenable error channel |
 | `expr catch fallback` | Provide fallback value on error |
diff --git a/compiler/checker/checker.odin b/compiler/checker/checker.odin
index 17c5610..0947816 100644
--- a/compiler/checker/checker.odin
+++ b/compiler/checker/checker.odin
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ mark_expr_imports_used :: proc(checker: ^Checker, expr_id: ast.Expr_Id, file: as
 			if expr.left != ast.INVALID_EXPR {
 				append(&stack, expr.left)
 			}
-		case .Negate, .Not, .Address, .Deref, .Field, .Unwrap, .Try, .Keyed:
+		case .Negate, .Not, .Address, .Deref, .Field, .Unwrap, .Try, .Keyed, .Enum_Literal:
 			append(&stack, expr.left)
 		case .Catch:
 			append(&stack, expr.left)
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ mark_expr_imports_used :: proc(checker: ^Checker, expr_id: ast.Expr_Id, file: as
 			mark_block_imports_used(checker, expr.body, file)
 		case .Add, .Sub, .Mul, .Div, .Index, .Orelse, .Eq, .Ne, .Lt, .Le, .Gt, .Ge, .And, .Or, .Range:
 			append(&stack, expr.left, expr.right)
-		case .Invalid, .Integer, .Float, .String, .Bool, .None, .Undefined, .Name, .Enum_Literal:
+		case .Invalid, .Integer, .Float, .String, .Bool, .None, .Undefined, .Name:
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -1331,6 +1331,9 @@ infer_compound_expr :: proc(
 	case .Undefined:
 		return types.INVALID
 	case .Enum_Literal:
+		if expr.left != ast.INVALID_EXPR {
+			_ = infer_nested_expr(checker, expr.left, locals, pkg, file, demanded, local_types)
+		}
 		return types.INVALID
 	case .Address:
 		child := infer_nested_expr(checker, expr.left, locals, pkg, file, demanded, local_types)
@@ -3256,29 +3259,45 @@ build_compound_expr :: proc(
 		)
 		return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
 	case .Enum_Literal:
-		// A bare enum literal in a tagged-union context constructs a variant. Only a
-		// void-payload variant can be built this way (it has no value); a payload variant
-		// must use `T{ variant = ... }`. (`.variant{...}` payload construction is the
-		// milestone-23 error-channel form.)
 		if types.is_tagged_union(expected, store) {
 			index, field, found := find_struct_field(checker, expected, expr.name)
 			if !found {
 				id := source.addf(checker.diagnostics, expr.span, "unknown variant '.%s' on '%s'", symbol_text(checker, expr.name), type_label(checker, expected))
 				return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
 			}
-			if !types.is_void(field.type) {
-				id := source.addf(checker.diagnostics, expr.span, "variant '.%s' on '%s' needs a payload; only void variants can be built from a bare '.%s'",
-					symbol_text(checker, expr.name), type_label(checker, expected), symbol_text(checker, expr.name))
-				return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
-			}
 			values := make([]hir.Expr_Id, 1, checker.allocator)
-			values[0] = hir.INVALID_EXPR
+			if expr.left == ast.INVALID_EXPR {
+				if !types.is_void(field.type) {
+					id := source.addf(checker.diagnostics, expr.span, "variant '.%s' on '%s' needs a payload; only void variants can be built from a bare '.%s'",
+						symbol_text(checker, expr.name), type_label(checker, expected), symbol_text(checker, expr.name))
+					delete(values, checker.allocator)
+					return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
+				}
+				values[0] = hir.INVALID_EXPR
+			} else {
+				if types.is_void(field.type) {
+					id := source.addf(checker.diagnostics, expr.span, "void variant '%s' takes no value", symbol_text(checker, expr.name))
+					delete(values, checker.allocator)
+					return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
+				}
+				values[0] = build_nested_expr(checker, expr.left, locals, global_reads, calls, field.type, pkg, file)
+				values[0] = coerce_expr(checker, values[0], field.type, checker.module.exprs[values[0]].span)
+			}
 			return add_hir_expr(checker, hir.Expr{
 				kind=.Struct, span=expr.span, type=expected, args=values, integer=i64(index),
 				target=hir.INVALID_REF, left=hir.INVALID_EXPR, right=hir.INVALID_EXPR,
 				diagnostic=source.INVALID_DIAGNOSTIC,
 			})
 		}
+		if expr.left != ast.INVALID_EXPR {
+			id := source.addf(
+				checker.diagnostics,
+				expr.span,
+				"'.%s{...}' requires a tagged-union context",
+				symbol_text(checker, expr.name),
+			)
+			return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, expected)
+		}
 		if !types.is_enum(expected, store) {
 			id := source.addf(
 				checker.diagnostics,
diff --git a/compiler/parser/parser.odin b/compiler/parser/parser.odin
index 7e579e6..c1ed4c2 100644
--- a/compiler/parser/parser.odin
+++ b/compiler/parser/parser.odin
@@ -366,23 +366,40 @@ parse_type_atom :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> ast.Type_Syntax {
 	return types.INVALID
 }
 
-parse_type :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> ast.Type_Syntax {
-	left := parse_type_atom(parser)
+parse_type_pipe_tail :: proc(parser: ^Parser, left: ast.Type_Syntax) -> ast.Type_Syntax {
+	result := left
 	for current(parser).kind == .Pipe {
 		operator := advance(parser)
 		right := parse_type_atom(parser)
-		composed, compose_error := types.compose_sum(&parser.module.type_store, left, right)
+		composed, compose_error := types.compose_sum(&parser.module.type_store, result, right)
 		if compose_error == .Unsupported {
 			source.add(parser.diagnostics, operator.span, "only native unbacked enums and tagged unions can be composed with '|'")
-			left = types.INVALID
+			result = types.INVALID
 		} else if compose_error == .Conflict {
 			source.add(parser.diagnostics, operator.span, "sum composition contains the same variant name with different payload types")
-			left = types.INVALID
+			result = types.INVALID
 		} else {
-			left = composed
+			result = composed
 		}
 	}
-	return left
+	return result
+}
+
+parse_type :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> ast.Type_Syntax {
+	return parse_type_pipe_tail(parser, parse_type_atom(parser))
+}
+
+parse_error_type :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> ast.Type_Syntax {
+	left := types.INVALID
+	#partial switch current(parser).kind {
+	case .Keyword_Enum:
+		left = parse_inline_enum_type(parser)
+	case .Keyword_Union:
+		left = parse_inline_union_type(parser)
+	case:
+		left = parse_type_atom(parser)
+	}
+	return parse_type_pipe_tail(parser, left)
 }
 
 skip_parenthesized :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> source.Span {
@@ -650,11 +667,36 @@ parse_primary :: proc(parser: ^Parser, nesting: int) -> ast.Expr_Id {
 			return invalid_expr(parser, member.span, "expected an enum member after '.'")
 		}
 		advance(parser)
+		payload := ast.INVALID_EXPR
+		end := member.span
+		if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Brace); ok {
+			parser.delimiter_depth += 1
+			skip_newlines(parser)
+			if current(parser).kind == .Right_Brace {
+				source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "contextual variant payload requires exactly one expression")
+			} else {
+				payload = parse_expression_bp(parser, 0, nesting+1)
+				skip_newlines(parser)
+				if _, comma_ok := allow(parser, .Comma); comma_ok {
+					source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "contextual variant payload requires exactly one expression")
+					for current(parser).kind != .Right_Brace && current(parser).kind != .Eof {
+						advance(parser)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			right_brace, close_ok := allow(parser, .Right_Brace)
+			if !close_ok {
+				source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '}' after contextual variant payload")
+				right_brace = member
+			}
+			parser.delimiter_depth -= 1
+			end = right_brace.span
+		}
 		return add_expr(parser, ast.Expr{
 			kind=.Enum_Literal,
-			span=span_from(start.span, member.span),
+			span=span_from(start.span, end),
 			name=member.symbol,
-			left=ast.INVALID_EXPR,
+			left=payload,
 			right=ast.INVALID_EXPR,
 			diagnostic=source.INVALID_DIAGNOSTIC,
 		})
@@ -1871,7 +1913,7 @@ parse_function :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_abi: bool) {
 	result := parse_type(parser)
 	error_type := types.INVALID
 	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Bang); ok {
-		error_type = parse_type(parser)
+		error_type = parse_error_type(parser)
 	}
 	end := previous(parser)
 	ended_by_newline := current(parser).kind == .Newline
@@ -1917,6 +1959,67 @@ parse_function :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_abi: bool) {
 	})
 }
 
+parse_record_body :: proc(parser: ^Parser, fields: ^[dynamic]types.Field, expected_open: string) -> bool {
+	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Brace); !ok {
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, expected_open)
+		return false
+	}
+	skip_newlines(parser)
+	for current(parser).kind != .Right_Brace && current(parser).kind != .Eof {
+		if current(parser).kind != .Identifier {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected a struct field name")
+			for current(parser).kind != .Newline &&
+			    current(parser).kind != .Right_Brace &&
+			    current(parser).kind != .Eof {
+				advance(parser)
+			}
+			skip_newlines(parser)
+			continue
+		}
+		field_name := advance(parser)
+		field_type := parse_type(parser)
+		append(fields, types.Field{name=u32(field_name.symbol), type=field_type})
+		if _, ok := allow(parser, .Comma); ok {
+			skip_newlines(parser)
+			continue
+		}
+		_ = finish_statement(parser, true)
+	}
+	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Right_Brace); !ok {
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '}' after struct fields")
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+parse_inline_union_type :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> types.Type {
+	advance(parser)
+	valid := true
+	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Paren); !ok {
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '(enum)' after inline union error type")
+		valid = false
+	} else {
+		if _, enum_ok := allow(parser, .Keyword_Enum); !enum_ok {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "inline union error types must use 'union(enum)'")
+			if current(parser).kind != .Right_Paren {
+				_ = parse_type(parser)
+			}
+			valid = false
+		}
+		if _, close_ok := allow(parser, .Right_Paren); !close_ok {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected ')' after union tag")
+			valid = false
+		}
+	}
+	fields: [dynamic]types.Field
+	fields.allocator = parser.module.allocator
+	defer delete(fields)
+	if !parse_record_body(parser, &fields, "expected '{' after inline union error type") || !valid {
+		return types.INVALID
+	}
+	tag := synthesize_union_tag(parser, fields[:])
+	return types.union_anonymous(&parser.module.type_store, fields[:], tag)
+}
+
 parse_struct :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_layout: bool, is_union := false) {
 	start := advance(parser)
 	id := types.named(&parser.module.type_store, u32(parser.pkg), u32(name.symbol))
@@ -1954,34 +2057,10 @@ parse_struct :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_layout: bool, is_unio
 		}
 		return
 	}
-	advance(parser)
 	fields: [dynamic]types.Field
 	fields.allocator = parser.module.allocator
 	defer delete(fields)
-	skip_newlines(parser)
-	for current(parser).kind != .Right_Brace && current(parser).kind != .Eof {
-		if current(parser).kind != .Identifier {
-			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected a struct field name")
-			for current(parser).kind != .Newline &&
-			    current(parser).kind != .Right_Brace &&
-			    current(parser).kind != .Eof {
-				advance(parser)
-			}
-			skip_newlines(parser)
-			continue
-		}
-		field_name := advance(parser)
-		field_type := parse_type(parser)
-		append(&fields, types.Field{name=u32(field_name.symbol), type=field_type})
-		if _, ok := allow(parser, .Comma); ok {
-			skip_newlines(parser)
-			continue
-		}
-		_ = finish_statement(parser, true)
-	}
-	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Right_Brace); !ok {
-		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '}' after struct fields")
-	}
+	_ = parse_record_body(parser, &fields, "expected '{' after struct fields")
 	if is_union && (inferred_tag || types.is_valid(declared_tag)) {
 		tag = synthesize_union_tag(parser, fields[:])
 	}
@@ -2033,26 +2112,19 @@ parse_alias :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
 	_ = finish_statement(parser)
 }
 
-parse_enum :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
-	start := advance(parser)
-	explicit_backing := false
-	backing := types.INVALID
-	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Paren); ok {
-		explicit_backing = true
-		backing = parse_type(parser)
-		if _, close_ok := allow(parser, .Right_Paren); !close_ok {
-			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected ')' after enum backing type")
-		}
-	}
+parse_enum_body :: proc(
+	parser: ^Parser,
+	start: source.Span,
+	explicit_backing: bool,
+	backing: ^types.Type,
+	members: ^[dynamic]types.Enum_Member,
+	expected_open: string,
+) -> bool {
 	skip_newlines(parser)
 	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Brace); !ok {
-		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '{' after enum declaration")
-		_ = finish_statement(parser)
-		return
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, expected_open)
+		return false
 	}
-	members: [dynamic]types.Enum_Member
-	members.allocator = parser.module.allocator
-	defer delete(members)
 	next_value: i128
 	previous_value: i128
 	has_previous := false
@@ -2070,7 +2142,7 @@ parse_enum :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
 		}
 		member := advance(parser)
 		duplicate := false
-		for existing in members {
+		for existing in members^ {
 			if existing.name == u32(member.symbol) {
 				duplicate = true
 				break
@@ -2108,7 +2180,7 @@ parse_enum :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
 			source.add(parser.diagnostics, member.span, "enum values must be strictly increasing")
 		}
 		if !duplicate {
-			append(&members, types.Enum_Member{name=u32(member.symbol), value=value})
+			append(members, types.Enum_Member{name=u32(member.symbol), value=value})
 		}
 		previous_value = value
 		has_previous = true
@@ -2122,19 +2194,61 @@ parse_enum :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
 	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Right_Brace); !ok {
 		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected '}' after enum members")
 	}
-	if len(members) == 0 {
-		source.add(parser.diagnostics, start.span, "enum declarations require at least one member")
+	if len(members^) == 0 {
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, start, "enum declarations require at least one member")
 	}
 	if !explicit_backing {
-		backing = types.U16
-		for &member in members {
+		backing^ = types.U16
+		for &member in members^ {
 			id, ok := types.variant_id(&parser.module.type_store, member.name, types.VOID)
 			if !ok {
-				source.add(parser.diagnostics, start.span, "too many global sum variants for u16 tags")
+				source.add(parser.diagnostics, start, "too many global sum variants for u16 tags")
 			}
 			member.value = i128(id)
 		}
 	}
+	return true
+}
+
+parse_inline_enum_type :: proc(parser: ^Parser) -> types.Type {
+	start := advance(parser)
+	valid := true
+	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Paren); ok {
+		source.add(parser.diagnostics, start.span, "inline enum error types cannot declare a backing type")
+		_ = parse_type(parser)
+		if _, close_ok := allow(parser, .Right_Paren); !close_ok {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected ')' after enum backing type")
+		}
+		valid = false
+	}
+	backing := types.INVALID
+	members: [dynamic]types.Enum_Member
+	members.allocator = parser.module.allocator
+	defer delete(members)
+	if !parse_enum_body(parser, start.span, false, &backing, &members, "expected '{' after inline enum error type") || !valid {
+		return types.INVALID
+	}
+	return types.enum_anonymous(&parser.module.type_store, members[:], backing)
+}
+
+parse_enum :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token) {
+	start := advance(parser)
+	explicit_backing := false
+	backing := types.INVALID
+	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Paren); ok {
+		explicit_backing = true
+		backing = parse_type(parser)
+		if _, close_ok := allow(parser, .Right_Paren); !close_ok {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "expected ')' after enum backing type")
+		}
+	}
+	members: [dynamic]types.Enum_Member
+	members.allocator = parser.module.allocator
+	defer delete(members)
+	if !parse_enum_body(parser, start.span, explicit_backing, &backing, &members, "expected '{' after enum declaration") {
+		_ = finish_statement(parser)
+		return
+	}
 	id := types.named(&parser.module.type_store, u32(parser.pkg), u32(name.symbol))
 	if !types.define_enum(&parser.module.type_store, id, backing, members[:], explicit_backing) {
 		source.addf(parser.diagnostics, name.span, "duplicate type declaration '%s'", token_text(parser, name))
diff --git a/compiler_tests.odin b/compiler_tests.odin
index 0c28564..f06a1e6 100644
--- a/compiler_tests.odin
+++ b/compiler_tests.odin
@@ -2514,6 +2514,181 @@ main func() i32 {
 	testing.expect_value(t, compiler_core.compile_package(directory, output), 1)
 }
 
+@(test)
+contextual_payload_variants_compile :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	text := `DetailError :: union(enum) {
+	code i32
+	empty void
+}
+make_payload func() i32 {
+	return 7
+}
+accept func(value DetailError) i32 {
+	match value {
+		.code |n|: return n
+		.empty:    return 0
+	}
+}
+make_code func(value i32) DetailError {
+	return .code{value}
+}
+with_detail func(value i32) i32 ! DetailError {
+	if (value == 0) return .code{5}
+	if (value == 1) return .empty
+	return value
+}
+main func() i32 {
+	e DetailError = .code{3}
+	recovered :: with_detail(0) catch |err| {
+		match err {
+			.code |n|: yield n
+			.empty:    yield 9
+		}
+	}
+	return accept(e) + accept(.code{4}) + accept(make_code(5)) + accept(.code{make_payload()}) + recovered - 24
+}
+`
+	source_file := source.Source{path="contextual_payload.bro", text=text}
+	diagnostics := source.init_diagnostics(&source_file)
+	defer source.destroy_diagnostics(&diagnostics)
+	symbols := symbol.init_table()
+	defer symbol.destroy_table(&symbols)
+	stream := lexer.lex(&source_file, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer delete(stream.items)
+	ast_module := parser.parse(&stream, &source_file, &diagnostics)
+	defer ast.destroy_module(&ast_module)
+	hir_module := checker.check(&ast_module, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer hir.destroy_module(&hir_module)
+	ir_module := lower.lower(&hir_module)
+	defer ir.destroy_module(&ir_module)
+	llvm_text := llvm.emit(&ir_module, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer delete(llvm_text)
+
+	testing.expect_value(t, len(diagnostics.items), 0)
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(llvm_text, "call void @llvm.memcpy.p0.p0.i64"))
+}
+
+@(test)
+inline_fallible_error_types_compile :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	text := `inline_enum func(value i32) i32 ! enum {
+	inline_bad
+	inline_worse
+} {
+	if (value == 0) return .inline_bad
+	if (value < 0) return .inline_worse
+	return value
+}
+inline_union func(value i32) i32 ! union(enum) {
+	inline_code i32
+	inline_empty void
+} {
+	if (value == 0) return .inline_code{6}
+	if (value == 1) return .inline_empty
+	return value
+}
+main func() i32 {
+	a :: inline_enum(0) catch |e| {
+		if (e == .inline_bad) {
+			yield 10
+		} else {
+			yield 11
+		}
+	}
+	b :: inline_union(0) catch |e| {
+		match e {
+			.inline_code |n|: yield n
+			.inline_empty:   yield 12
+		}
+	}
+	return a + b - 16
+}
+`
+	source_file := source.Source{path="inline_errors.bro", text=text}
+	diagnostics := source.init_diagnostics(&source_file)
+	defer source.destroy_diagnostics(&diagnostics)
+	symbols := symbol.init_table()
+	defer symbol.destroy_table(&symbols)
+	stream := lexer.lex(&source_file, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer delete(stream.items)
+	ast_module := parser.parse(&stream, &source_file, &diagnostics)
+	defer ast.destroy_module(&ast_module)
+	hir_module := checker.check(&ast_module, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer hir.destroy_module(&hir_module)
+	ir_module := lower.lower(&hir_module)
+	defer ir.destroy_module(&ir_module)
+	llvm_text := llvm.emit(&ir_module, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer delete(llvm_text)
+
+	testing.expect_value(t, len(diagnostics.items), 0)
+	testing.expect(t, len(hir_module.functions) > 1)
+	testing.expect(t, len(llvm_text) > 0)
+}
+
+@(test)
+contextual_payload_variants_reject_bad_forms :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	text := `DetailError :: union(enum) {
+	code i32
+	empty void
+}
+missing_payload func() DetailError {
+	return .code
+}
+void_payload func() DetailError {
+	return .empty{1}
+}
+empty_payload func() DetailError {
+	return .code{}
+}
+multi_payload func() DetailError {
+	return .code{1, 2}
+}
+unknown_payload func() DetailError {
+	return .missing{1}
+}
+no_context func() i32 {
+	_ = .code{1}
+	return 0
+}
+main func() i32 {
+	_ = missing_payload()
+	_ = void_payload()
+	_ = empty_payload()
+	_ = multi_payload()
+	_ = unknown_payload()
+	return no_context()
+}
+`
+	source_file := source.Source{path="bad_contextual_payload.bro", text=text}
+	diagnostics := source.init_diagnostics(&source_file)
+	defer source.destroy_diagnostics(&diagnostics)
+	symbols := symbol.init_table()
+	defer symbol.destroy_table(&symbols)
+	stream := lexer.lex(&source_file, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer delete(stream.items)
+	ast_module := parser.parse(&stream, &source_file, &diagnostics)
+	defer ast.destroy_module(&ast_module)
+	hir_module := checker.check(&ast_module, &diagnostics, &symbols)
+	defer hir.destroy_module(&hir_module)
+
+	found_missing := false
+	found_void := false
+	payload_arity_errors := 0
+	found_unknown := false
+	found_no_context := false
+	for diagnostic in diagnostics.items {
+		found_missing = found_missing || strings.contains(diagnostic.message, "needs a payload")
+		found_void = found_void || strings.contains(diagnostic.message, "void variant 'empty' takes no value")
+		payload_arity_errors += 1 if strings.contains(diagnostic.message, "requires exactly one expression") else 0
+		found_unknown = found_unknown || strings.contains(diagnostic.message, "unknown variant '.missing'")
+		found_no_context = found_no_context || strings.contains(diagnostic.message, "requires a tagged-union context")
+	}
+	testing.expect(t, found_missing)
+	testing.expect(t, found_void)
+	testing.expect(t, payload_arity_errors >= 2)
+	testing.expect(t, found_unknown)
+	testing.expect(t, found_no_context)
+}
+
 @(test)
 errors_example_compiles_and_runs :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	output := "/tmp/brolang-test-errors"
diff --git a/examples/programs/errors/main.bro b/examples/programs/errors/main.bro
index 3da2fcf..7c55305 100644
--- a/examples/programs/errors/main.bro
+++ b/examples/programs/errors/main.bro
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ via_try func(value i32) i32 ! BasicError {
 }
 
 with_detail func(value i32) i32 ! DetailError {
-	if (value == 0) return DetailError{ code = 5 }
+	if (value == 0) return .code{5}
 	if (value == 1) return .empty
 	return value
 }
@@ -96,6 +96,24 @@ payload func(value Box) i32 {
 	}
 }
 
+inline_enum func(value i32) i32 ! enum {
+	inline_bad
+	inline_worse
+} {
+	if (value == 0) return .inline_bad
+	if (value < 0) return .inline_worse
+	return value
+}
+
+inline_detail func(value i32) i32 ! union(enum) {
+	inline_code i32
+	inline_empty void
+} {
+	if (value == 0) return .inline_code{6}
+	if (value == 1) return .inline_empty
+	return value
+}
+
 main func() i32 {
 	acc i32 = 0
 
@@ -112,16 +130,30 @@ main func() i32 {
 	k :: via_widen(3) catch 99
 	l :: catch_widen(0)
 	m :: catch_widen(-1)
+	n :: inline_enum(0) catch |e| {
+		if (e == .inline_bad) {
+			yield 60
+		} else {
+			yield 61
+		}
+	}
+	o :: inline_detail(0) catch |e| {
+		match e {
+			.inline_code |value|: yield value + 70
+			.inline_empty:        yield 80
+		}
+	}
 
-	acc = acc + a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m
+	acc = acc + a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m + n + o
 	acc = acc + pick(.left)
 	r Right = .right
 	acc = acc + pick(r)
-	box BoxA = BoxA{ a = 8 }
+	box BoxA = .a{8}
 	acc = acc + payload(box)
 	empty BoxB = .b
 	acc = acc + payload(empty)
+	acc = acc + payload(.a{9})
 
-	# 7 + 5 + 5 + 11 + 13 + 2 + 21 + 22 + 35 + 40 + 6 + 50 + 51 + 10 + 20 + 8 + 3 = 309
-	return acc - 309
+	# 7 + 5 + 5 + 11 + 13 + 2 + 21 + 22 + 35 + 40 + 6 + 50 + 51 + 60 + 76 + 10 + 20 + 8 + 3 + 9 = 454
+	return acc - 454
 }