diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7e7ad5fd..2b4f2ffa 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ TESTS	= $(BIN)/test_smoke $(BIN)/test_lex $(BIN)/test_parse $(BIN)/test_check \
 	  $(BIN)/test_typeeq_fn_ast \
 	  $(BIN)/test_amp_fn_ident \
 	  $(BIN)/test_star_fn_deref \
+	  $(BIN)/test_star_fn_deref_call \
 	  $(BIN)/test_use_promote_alias \
 	  $(BIN)/test_field_signed $(BIN)/test_frame_argcount \
 	  $(BIN)/test_selfhost $(BIN)/test_w6a_ww $(BIN)/test_w6l_ww \
@@ -618,6 +619,12 @@ $(BIN)/test_star_fn_deref: test/wcc/765_star_fn_deref.c \
 		$(LIB)/libwwrt.a | $(BIN)
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
+$(BIN)/test_star_fn_deref_call: test/wcc/766_star_fn_deref_call.c \
+		$(BIN)/ww $(BIN)/w6c $(BIN)/w6a $(BIN)/w6l \
+		$(BIN)/ww_ww $(BIN)/w6c_ww $(BIN)/w6a_ww $(BIN)/w6l_ww \
+		$(LIB)/libwwrt.a | $(BIN)
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o $@ $<
+
 $(BIN)/test_arrlit_str_full: test/wcc/711_arrlit_str_full.c \
 		$(BIN)/ww $(BIN)/w6c $(BIN)/w6a $(BIN)/w6l \
 		$(BIN)/ww_ww $(BIN)/w6c_ww $(BIN)/w6a_ww $(BIN)/w6l_ww \
diff --git a/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww b/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
index b6a3a091..ac20e233 100644
--- a/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
+++ b/selfhost/cmd/w6c/main.combined.ww
@@ -12408,7 +12408,6 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		nm.ptr = nil; nm.len = 0;
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) { nm = callee.str; };
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_DOT)   { nm = callee.str; };
-		if (nm.len == 0) { return nil; };
 		// #56: bare-leaf N_IDENT calls go through scopelookupprefer so
 		// `foo()` inside module M binds to M.foo rather than another
 		// module's same-leaf foo at the head of the flat scope bucket.
@@ -12438,31 +12437,41 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		// that coexists in the same scope (coexistence-equivalent of
 		// cstage's use_alias; see lib/ww/sym.ww + memory
 		// module_type_name_collision).
-		let s: *sym = nil;
-		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-			s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
-		} else {
-			let ms: *sym = nil;
-			if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-				ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
-				if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
-					let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
-					if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+		//
+		// #181: a non-named callee (N_UN TK_STAR deref of a *fn local,
+		// `(*f)(...)`; or any other expression-as-callee shape) has no
+		// leaf to resolve here — skip the SK_FN name-lookup and let the
+		// fn-VALUE fallback below peel TPTR / dealias to TFN. Mirrors
+		// harec check_autodereference at ref/harec/src/check.c:1566.
+		// cgen post-#180+#185 already lowers the deref-call correctly,
+		// so lifting the asserttyped bail is silent-SIGSEGV-safe.
+		if (nm.len > 0) {
+			let s: *sym = nil;
+			if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+				s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
+			} else {
+				let ms: *sym = nil;
+				if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+					ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
+					if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
+						let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
+						if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+					};
+				};
+				if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
+					s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
+				} else {
+					s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
 				};
 			};
-			if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
-				s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
-			} else {
-				s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
-			};
+			if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
+				// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
+				// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
+				// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
+				e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
+				return s.decl.lhs;
+			}; }; };
 		};
-		if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
-			// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
-			// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
-			// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
-			e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
-			return s.decl.lhs;
-		}; }; };
 		// A callee that is a fn-VALUE — a fn-pointer struct field
 		// (`w.emit(...)`), local, or param — has no free SK_FN entry, so
 		// the name lookup above misses. Read the result off the checked
diff --git a/selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww b/selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww
index f1b9d929..6d65c35b 100644
--- a/selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww
+++ b/selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww
@@ -2378,7 +2378,6 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		nm.ptr = nil; nm.len = 0;
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) { nm = callee.str; };
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_DOT)   { nm = callee.str; };
-		if (nm.len == 0) { return nil; };
 		// #56: bare-leaf N_IDENT calls go through scopelookupprefer so
 		// `foo()` inside module M binds to M.foo rather than another
 		// module's same-leaf foo at the head of the flat scope bucket.
@@ -2408,31 +2407,41 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		// that coexists in the same scope (coexistence-equivalent of
 		// cstage's use_alias; see lib/ww/sym.ww + memory
 		// module_type_name_collision).
-		let s: *sym = nil;
-		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-			s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
-		} else {
-			let ms: *sym = nil;
-			if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-				ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
-				if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
-					let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
-					if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+		//
+		// #181: a non-named callee (N_UN TK_STAR deref of a *fn local,
+		// `(*f)(...)`; or any other expression-as-callee shape) has no
+		// leaf to resolve here — skip the SK_FN name-lookup and let the
+		// fn-VALUE fallback below peel TPTR / dealias to TFN. Mirrors
+		// harec check_autodereference at ref/harec/src/check.c:1566.
+		// cgen post-#180+#185 already lowers the deref-call correctly,
+		// so lifting the asserttyped bail is silent-SIGSEGV-safe.
+		if (nm.len > 0) {
+			let s: *sym = nil;
+			if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+				s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
+			} else {
+				let ms: *sym = nil;
+				if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+					ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
+					if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
+						let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
+						if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+					};
+				};
+				if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
+					s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
+				} else {
+					s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
 				};
 			};
-			if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
-				s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
-			} else {
-				s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
-			};
+			if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
+				// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
+				// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
+				// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
+				e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
+				return s.decl.lhs;
+			}; }; };
 		};
-		if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
-			// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
-			// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
-			// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
-			e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
-			return s.decl.lhs;
-		}; }; };
 		// A callee that is a fn-VALUE — a fn-pointer struct field
 		// (`w.emit(...)`), local, or param — has no free SK_FN entry, so
 		// the name lookup above misses. Read the result off the checked
diff --git a/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww b/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
index a549d86e..b60f8818 100644
--- a/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
+++ b/selfhost/cmd/wwdump/main.combined.ww
@@ -12408,7 +12408,6 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		nm.ptr = nil; nm.len = 0;
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) { nm = callee.str; };
 		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_DOT)   { nm = callee.str; };
-		if (nm.len == 0) { return nil; };
 		// #56: bare-leaf N_IDENT calls go through scopelookupprefer so
 		// `foo()` inside module M binds to M.foo rather than another
 		// module's same-leaf foo at the head of the flat scope bucket.
@@ -12438,31 +12437,41 @@ fn exprtype(c: *checker, e: *node, hint: *node) *node = {
 		// that coexists in the same scope (coexistence-equivalent of
 		// cstage's use_alias; see lib/ww/sym.ww + memory
 		// module_type_name_collision).
-		let s: *sym = nil;
-		if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-			s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
-		} else {
-			let ms: *sym = nil;
-			if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
-				ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
-				if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
-					let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
-					if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+		//
+		// #181: a non-named callee (N_UN TK_STAR deref of a *fn local,
+		// `(*f)(...)`; or any other expression-as-callee shape) has no
+		// leaf to resolve here — skip the SK_FN name-lookup and let the
+		// fn-VALUE fallback below peel TPTR / dealias to TFN. Mirrors
+		// harec check_autodereference at ref/harec/src/check.c:1566.
+		// cgen post-#180+#185 already lowers the deref-call correctly,
+		// so lifting the asserttyped bail is silent-SIGSEGV-safe.
+		if (nm.len > 0) {
+			let s: *sym = nil;
+			if (callee.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+				s = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, nm);
+			} else {
+				let ms: *sym = nil;
+				if (callee.lhs != nil && callee.lhs.kind == nkind.N_IDENT) {
+					ms = scopelookupprefer(c.cur, c.curmod, callee.lhs.str);
+					if (ms != nil && ms.skind != skind.SK_USE) {
+						let mu: *sym = scopelookupuselocal(ms.scope, callee.lhs.str);
+						if (mu != nil) { ms = mu; };
+					};
+				};
+				if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
+					s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
+				} else {
+					s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
 				};
 			};
-			if (ms != nil && ms.skind == skind.SK_USE) {
-				s = scopelookupinmodule(c.cur, callee.lhs.str, nm);
-			} else {
-				s = scopelookup(c.cur, nm);
-			};
+			if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
+				// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
+				// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
+				// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
+				e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
+				return s.decl.lhs;
+			}; }; };
 		};
-		if (s != nil) { if (s.skind == skind.SK_FN) { if (s.decl != nil) {
-			// fn-decl's lhs is the return-type AST node. Mirrors cstage
-			// cmd/wcc/check.c:984+ regular-CALL `n->type =
-			// build_fn_type(c, s->decl)->ret` shape.
-			e.type_ = tinfofornode(c, s.decl.lhs): *void;
-			return s.decl.lhs;
-		}; }; };
 		// A callee that is a fn-VALUE — a fn-pointer struct field
 		// (`w.emit(...)`), local, or param — has no free SK_FN entry, so
 		// the name lookup above misses. Read the result off the checked
diff --git a/test/wcc/766_star_fn_deref_call.c b/test/wcc/766_star_fn_deref_call.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21f305a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/wcc/766_star_fn_deref_call.c
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+/*
+ * 766_star_fn_deref_call — root-cause lock for project #181, and the
+ * live verification of the full deref-call c-cluster (#180 + #185 +
+ * #181 working together end-to-end).
+ *
+ * Pre-#181 wwstage's checker bailed asserttyped on the N_CALL whose
+ * callee was N_UN TK_STAR over a *fn — selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww
+ * exprtype's N_CALL arm only resolved IDENT/DOT-named callees and
+ * early-returned nil for any other shape, leaving e.type_ unstamped
+ * so the post-checker invariant gate fired. With cgen post-#180+#185
+ * already correct for the deref-call lowering, the safe fix was to
+ * lift the asserttyped bail and route the callee through the
+ * fn-VALUE fallback (autodereference + dealias to TY_FN, mirroring
+ * harec check_autodereference at ref/harec/src/check.c:1566).
+ *
+ * Fix: selfhost/cmd/wcc/check.ww exprtype N_CALL arm — replace the
+ * `if (nm.len == 0) return nil` early-bail with `if (nm.len > 0)
+ * { name-lookup }`, so non-named callees fall through to the
+ * existing fn-VALUE branch (peel TPTR, dealias to TFN, stamp the
+ * result type). cstage check.c already worked because cexpr
+ * recurses on the callee — TK_STAR's unop arm returns t->sub which
+ * is TY_FN directly, no name path needed.
+ *
+ * Gate flip from 765: 765 was cstage-only because wwstage bailed
+ * before reaching cgen. Post-#181 every row gates BOTH stages —
+ * cstage runtime, wwstage runtime, AND cs.s == ww.s byte-id. This
+ * is the runtime coverage 765 deferred plus the symmetry gate that
+ * proves both stages emit identical asm for the deref-call shape.
+ *
+ * Coverage (same 5 rows as 765, now with STAGE_CS|STAGE_WW):
+ *   1. minimal              — `let f = &add1; (*f)(7) == 8`
+ *   2. branched_callee      — pick aa or bb by runtime cond
+ *   3. alias_chain          — `let f = &fn; let g = f; (*g)(7)`
+ *   4. fn_with_args         — multiple args, scalar + ptr mix
+ *   5. fn_tuple_return      — (i32, i32) return shape; multi-reg
+ *                             return ABI survives the deref-call
+ *
+ * Gates per row:
+ *   a. cstage builds + runs, exit == expected (already worked
+ *      post-#180+#185; kept for c-cluster regression coverage).
+ *   b. wwstage builds + runs, exit == expected — the #181 lift
+ *      gate; pre-fix this row's asserttyped bailed before cgen.
+ *   c. cstage .s == wwstage .s byte-identical — rule-10 symmetry,
+ *      proves the checker change doesn't perturb the codegen.
+ *
+ * GATE POLARITY: must stay GREEN. A red here means either the
+ * checker N_CALL fn-VALUE route regressed, the cgen deref-call
+ * lowering regressed (#180/#185), or stage symmetry drifted.
+ */
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+
+static int
+runwait(const char *cmd)
+{
+	int rc = system(cmd);
+	if (rc == -1) return -1;
+	if (WIFEXITED(rc)) return WEXITSTATUS(rc);
+	return -1;
+}
+
+#define STAGE_CS	1
+#define STAGE_WW	2
+
+struct row {
+	const char *label;
+	const char *src;
+	int expected_exit;
+	int stage_mask;
+};
+
+static const struct row rows[] = {
+	{ "minimal",
+	  "fn add1(x: i32) i32 = { return x + 1; };\n"
+	  "export fn main() i32 = {\n"
+	  "    let f: *fn(x: i32) i32 = &add1;\n"
+	  "    return (*f)(7);\n"
+	  "};\n",
+	  8,
+	  STAGE_CS | STAGE_WW },
+	/* Branched-callee: the if-arm forces a runtime choice between
+	 * two distinct fn addresses, defeating any constant-aliasing
+	 * mask of the deref miscompile (#105 lesson). */
+	{ "branched_callee",
+	  "fn aa(x: i32) i32 = { return x; };\n"
+	  "fn bb(x: i32) i32 = { return x + 100; };\n"
+	  "export fn main() i32 = {\n"
+	  "    let pick: i32 = 1;\n"
+	  "    let f: *fn(x: i32) i32 = &aa;\n"
+	  "    if (pick != 0) { f = &bb; };\n"
+	  "    return (*f)(7);\n"
+	  "};\n",
+	  107,
+	  STAGE_CS | STAGE_WW },
+	{ "alias_chain",
+	  "fn add1(x: i32) i32 = { return x + 1; };\n"
+	  "export fn main() i32 = {\n"
+	  "    let f: *fn(x: i32) i32 = &add1;\n"
+	  "    let g: *fn(x: i32) i32 = f;\n"
+	  "    return (*g)(7);\n"
+	  "};\n",
+	  8,
+	  STAGE_CS | STAGE_WW },
+	{ "fn_with_args",
+	  "fn many(a: i32, b: i32, p: *i32) i32 = { return a + b + *p; };\n"
+	  "export fn main() i32 = {\n"
+	  "    let z: i32 = 5;\n"
+	  "    let f: *fn(a: i32, b: i32, p: *i32) i32 = &many;\n"
+	  "    return (*f)(3, 7, &z);\n"
+	  "};\n",
+	  15,
+	  STAGE_CS | STAGE_WW },
+	/* Tuple-return: exercises the multi-register return ABI through
+	 * the deref-call. (i32, i32) keeps it simple while still covering
+	 * the multi-reg path. */
+	{ "fn_tuple_return",
+	  "fn pair(x: i32) (i32, i32) = { return (x, x + 1); };\n"
+	  "export fn main() i32 = {\n"
+	  "    let f: *fn(x: i32) (i32, i32) = &pair;\n"
+	  "    let a, b = (*f)(7);\n"
+	  "    return a + b;\n"
+	  "};\n",
+	  15,
+	  STAGE_CS | STAGE_WW },
+};
+
+static int
+write_source(const char *src_path, const char *src)
+{
+	FILE *f = fopen(src_path, "wb");
+	if (!f) return -1;
+	fputs(src, f);
+	fclose(f);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void
+cleanup_tmp(const char *tmpdir, const char *base)
+{
+	char p[512];
+	snprintf(p, sizeof p, "%s/%s.ww", tmpdir, base); unlink(p);
+	snprintf(p, sizeof p, "%s/%s.s",  tmpdir, base); unlink(p);
+	snprintf(p, sizeof p, "%s/%s.o",  tmpdir, base); unlink(p);
+	snprintf(p, sizeof p, "%s/%s.combined.ww", tmpdir, base); unlink(p);
+	snprintf(p, sizeof p, "%s/%s",    tmpdir, base); unlink(p);
+	rmdir(tmpdir);
+}
+
+static int
+build_via_driver(const char *driver, const char *tmpdir, const char *src)
+{
+	char cmd[1024];
+	snprintf(cmd, sizeof cmd, "cd %s && timeout 180 %s build %s 2>/dev/null",
+	    tmpdir, driver, src);
+	return runwait(cmd);
+}
+
+/* run_row — build + run; returns the binary's exit code (-1 on
+ * build failure). */
+static int
+run_row(const char *driver, const struct row *r, int seq)
+{
+	char tmpdir[256], src[256], base[64], outbin[512];
+	snprintf(tmpdir, sizeof tmpdir, "/tmp/wcsfdc_%d_d_%d", getpid(), seq);
+	snprintf(src,    sizeof src,    "%s/main766.ww", tmpdir);
+	snprintf(base,   sizeof base,   "main766");
+	mkdir(tmpdir, 0755);
+	if (write_source(src, r->src) != 0) {
+		cleanup_tmp(tmpdir, base);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	int rc = -1;
+	if (build_via_driver(driver, tmpdir, src) == 0) {
+		snprintf(outbin, sizeof outbin, "%s/%s", tmpdir, base);
+		rc = runwait(outbin);
+	}
+	cleanup_tmp(tmpdir, base);
+	return rc;
+}
+
+/* asm_byte_identical — diff cstage vs wwstage .s. Parallel trees so
+ * ww_ww writing intermediates next to the source doesn't clobber the
+ * cstage .s (filed bug per CLAUDE.md rule 14 phase split). */
+static int
+asm_byte_identical(const char *cdrv, const char *wdrv,
+    const struct row *r, int seq)
+{
+	char src[256], tdc[256], tdw[256], base[64], cs[512], ws[512];
+	snprintf(tdc, sizeof tdc, "/tmp/wcsfdc_%d_c_%d", getpid(), seq);
+	snprintf(tdw, sizeof tdw, "/tmp/wcsfdc_%d_w_%d", getpid(), seq);
+	snprintf(base, sizeof base, "main766");
+	mkdir(tdc, 0755);
+	mkdir(tdw, 0755);
+	snprintf(src, sizeof src, "%s/main766.ww", tdc);
+	if (write_source(src, r->src) != 0) { cleanup_tmp(tdc, base); cleanup_tmp(tdw, base); return -1; }
+	int rc = -1;
+	if (build_via_driver(cdrv, tdc, src) != 0) goto out;
+	snprintf(cs, sizeof cs, "%s/%s.s", tdc, base);
+
+	snprintf(src, sizeof src, "%s/main766.ww", tdw);
+	if (write_source(src, r->src) != 0) goto out;
+	if (build_via_driver(wdrv, tdw, src) != 0) goto out;
+	snprintf(ws, sizeof ws, "%s/%s.s", tdw, base);
+
+	FILE *fc = fopen(cs, "rb");
+	FILE *fw = fopen(ws, "rb");
+	if (fc && fw) {
+		rc = 0;
+		for (;;) {
+			int a = fgetc(fc);
+			int b = fgetc(fw);
+			if (a != b) { rc = -1; break; }
+			if (a == EOF) break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (fc) fclose(fc);
+	if (fw) fclose(fw);
+out:
+	cleanup_tmp(tdc, base);
+	cleanup_tmp(tdw, base);
+	return rc;
+}
+
+int
+main(void)
+{
+	const char *bin = getenv("BIN");
+	if (!bin) bin = "out/bin";
+	char absbin[1024];
+	if (bin[0] != '/') {
+		char cwd[1024];
+		if (getcwd(cwd, sizeof cwd) == NULL) return 1;
+		snprintf(absbin, sizeof absbin, "%s/%s", cwd, bin);
+		bin = absbin;
+	}
+
+	char cdrv[1024], wdrv[1024];
+	snprintf(cdrv, sizeof cdrv, "%s/ww",    bin);
+	snprintf(wdrv, sizeof wdrv, "%s/ww_ww", bin);
+
+	int n = (int)(sizeof rows / sizeof rows[0]);
+	int total = 0, fail = 0;
+	int wwpresent = (access(wdrv, X_OK) == 0);
+	int seq = 0;
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		if (rows[i].stage_mask & STAGE_CS) {
+			total++;
+			int got = run_row(cdrv, &rows[i], seq++);
+			if (got != rows[i].expected_exit) {
+				fprintf(stderr,
+				    "star_fn_deref_call[cstage run][%s]: exit=%d want=%d\n",
+				    rows[i].label, got, rows[i].expected_exit);
+				fail++;
+			}
+		}
+		if (wwpresent && (rows[i].stage_mask & STAGE_WW)) {
+			total++;
+			int got = run_row(wdrv, &rows[i], seq++);
+			if (got != rows[i].expected_exit) {
+				fprintf(stderr,
+				    "star_fn_deref_call[wwstage run][%s]: exit=%d want=%d\n",
+				    rows[i].label, got, rows[i].expected_exit);
+				fail++;
+			}
+			total++;
+			if (asm_byte_identical(cdrv, wdrv, &rows[i], seq++) != 0) {
+				fprintf(stderr,
+				    "star_fn_deref_call[byte-id][%s]: cstage vs wwstage asm differs\n",
+				    rows[i].label);
+				fail++;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!wwpresent)
+		fprintf(stderr, "star_fn_deref_call: skip wwstage (no %s)\n", wdrv);
+
+	if (fail) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "star_fn_deref_call: %d/%d fixtures failed\n",
+		    fail, total);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	printf("star_fn_deref_call: %d/%d ok\n", total, total);
+	return 0;
+}