diff --git a/i386-asm.c b/i386-asm.c
index 3f7c1df9..10926fef 100644
--- a/i386-asm.c
+++ b/i386-asm.c
@@ -1517,7 +1517,7 @@ ST_FUNC void subst_asm_operand(CString *add_str,
     } else if (r & VT_LVAL) {
         reg = r & VT_VALMASK;
         if (reg >= VT_CONST)
-            tcc_error("internal compiler error");
+            tcc_internal_error("");
         snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "(%%%s)",
 #ifdef TCC_TARGET_X86_64
                  get_tok_str(TOK_ASM_rax + reg, NULL)
@@ -1530,7 +1530,7 @@ ST_FUNC void subst_asm_operand(CString *add_str,
         /* register case */
         reg = r & VT_VALMASK;
         if (reg >= VT_CONST)
-            tcc_error("internal compiler error");
+            tcc_internal_error("");
 
         /* choose register operand size */
         if ((sv->type.t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_BYTE ||
diff --git a/tcc.h b/tcc.h
index 410d3e67..5e987ed4 100644
--- a/tcc.h
+++ b/tcc.h
@@ -1237,6 +1237,8 @@ PUB_FUNC char *tcc_strdup_debug(const char *str, const char *file, int line);
 PUB_FUNC void _tcc_error_noabort(const char *fmt, ...) PRINTF_LIKE(1,2);
 PUB_FUNC NORETURN void _tcc_error(const char *fmt, ...) PRINTF_LIKE(1,2);
 PUB_FUNC void _tcc_warning(const char *fmt, ...) PRINTF_LIKE(1,2);
+#define tcc_internal_error(msg) tcc_error("internal compiler error\n"\
+        "%s:%d: in %s(): " msg, __FILE__,__LINE__,__FUNCTION__)
 
 /* other utilities */
 ST_FUNC void dynarray_add(void *ptab, int *nb_ptr, void *data);
@@ -1507,7 +1509,6 @@ ST_FUNC Section *new_section(TCCState *s1, const char *name, int sh_type, int sh
 ST_FUNC void section_realloc(Section *sec, unsigned long new_size);
 ST_FUNC size_t section_add(Section *sec, addr_t size, int align);
 ST_FUNC void *section_ptr_add(Section *sec, addr_t size);
-ST_FUNC void section_reserve(Section *sec, unsigned long size);
 ST_FUNC Section *find_section(TCCState *s1, const char *name);
 ST_FUNC Section *new_symtab(TCCState *s1, const char *symtab_name, int sh_type, int sh_flags, const char *strtab_name, const char *hash_name, int hash_sh_flags);
 
@@ -1544,8 +1545,6 @@ ST_FUNC void add_array(TCCState *s1, const char *sec, int c);
 ST_FUNC void build_got_entries(TCCState *s1);
 #endif
 ST_FUNC struct sym_attr *get_sym_attr(TCCState *s1, int index, int alloc);
-ST_FUNC void squeeze_multi_relocs(Section *sec, size_t oldrelocoffset);
-
 ST_FUNC addr_t get_sym_addr(TCCState *s, const char *name, int err, int forc);
 ST_FUNC void list_elf_symbols(TCCState *s, void *ctx,
     void (*symbol_cb)(void *ctx, const char *name, const void *val));
diff --git a/tccelf.c b/tccelf.c
index f9449b30..aa582856 100644
--- a/tccelf.c
+++ b/tccelf.c
@@ -321,14 +321,16 @@ ST_FUNC void *section_ptr_add(Section *sec, addr_t size)
     return sec->data + offset;
 }
 
+#ifndef ELF_OBJ_ONLY
 /* reserve at least 'size' bytes from section start */
-ST_FUNC void section_reserve(Section *sec, unsigned long size)
+static void section_reserve(Section *sec, unsigned long size)
 {
     if (size > sec->data_allocated)
         section_realloc(sec, size);
     if (size > sec->data_offset)
         sec->data_offset = size;
 }
+#endif
 
 static Section *find_section_create (TCCState *s1, const char *name, int create)
 {
@@ -762,45 +764,7 @@ ST_FUNC void put_elf_reloc(Section *symtab, Section *s, unsigned long offset,
     put_elf_reloca(symtab, s, offset, type, symbol, 0);
 }
 
-/* Remove relocations for section S->reloc starting at oldrelocoffset
-   that are to the same place, retaining the last of them.  As side effect
-   the relocations are sorted.  Possibly reduces the number of relocs.  */
-ST_FUNC void squeeze_multi_relocs(Section *s, size_t oldrelocoffset)
-{
-    Section *sr = s->reloc;
-    ElfW_Rel *r, *dest;
-    ssize_t a;
-    ElfW(Addr) addr;
-
-    if (oldrelocoffset + sizeof(*r) >= sr->data_offset)
-      return;
-    /* The relocs we're dealing with are the result of initializer parsing.
-       So they will be mostly in order and there aren't many of them.
-       Secondly we need a stable sort (which qsort isn't).  We use
-       a simple insertion sort.  */
-    for (a = oldrelocoffset + sizeof(*r); a < sr->data_offset; a += sizeof(*r)) {
-	ssize_t i = a - sizeof(*r);
-        ElfW_Rel tmp = *(ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + a);
-	addr = tmp.r_offset;
-	for (; i >= (ssize_t)oldrelocoffset &&
-	       ((ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + i))->r_offset > addr; i -= sizeof(*r)) {
-	    *(ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + i + sizeof(*r)) = *(ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + i);
-	}
-        *(ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + i + sizeof(*r)) = tmp;
-    }
-
-    r = (ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + oldrelocoffset);
-    dest = r;
-    for (; r < (ElfW_Rel*)(sr->data + sr->data_offset); r++) {
-	if (dest->r_offset != r->r_offset)
-	  dest++;
-	*dest = *r;
-    }
-    sr->data_offset = (unsigned char*)dest - sr->data + sizeof(*r);
-}
-
 /* put stab debug information */
-
 ST_FUNC void put_stabs(TCCState *s1, const char *str, int type, int other, int desc,
                       unsigned long value)
 {
diff --git a/tccgen.c b/tccgen.c
index 84b9420c..681fa192 100644
--- a/tccgen.c
+++ b/tccgen.c
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ static struct scope {
     Sym *lstk, *llstk;
 } *cur_scope, *loop_scope, *root_scope;
 
+typedef struct {
+    Section *sec;
+    int local_offset;
+    Sym *flex_array_ref;
+} init_params;
+
 /********************************************************/
 /* stab debug support */
 
@@ -218,8 +224,8 @@ static int is_compatible_types(CType *type1, CType *type2);
 static int parse_btype(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad);
 static CType *type_decl(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int *v, int td);
 static void parse_expr_type(CType *type);
-static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c);
-static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c, int flags);
+static void init_putv(init_params *p, CType *type, unsigned long c);
+static void decl_initializer(init_params *p, CType *type, unsigned long c, int flags);
 static void block(int is_expr);
 static void decl_initializer_alloc(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int r, int has_init, int v, int scope);
 static void decl(int l);
@@ -2167,16 +2173,17 @@ ST_FUNC int gv(int rc)
     } else {
         if (is_float(vtop->type.t) && 
             (vtop->r & (VT_VALMASK | VT_LVAL)) == VT_CONST) {
-            unsigned long offset;
             /* CPUs usually cannot use float constants, so we store them
                generically in data segment */
+            init_params p = { data_section };
+            unsigned long offset;
             size = type_size(&vtop->type, &align);
             if (NODATA_WANTED)
                 size = 0, align = 1;
-            offset = section_add(data_section, size, align);
-            vpush_ref(&vtop->type, data_section, offset, size);
+            offset = section_add(p.sec, size, align);
+            vpush_ref(&vtop->type, p.sec, offset, size);
 	    vswap();
-	    init_putv(&vtop->type, data_section, offset);
+	    init_putv(&p, &vtop->type, offset);
 	    vtop->r |= VT_LVAL;
         }
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCC_BCHECK
@@ -5444,7 +5451,7 @@ static void parse_builtin_params(int nc, const char *args)
                 type.t = VT_SIZE_T;
                 break;
 	    default:
-                tcc_error("internal error");
+                break;
 	}
         gen_assign_cast(&type);
     }
@@ -6102,7 +6109,8 @@ special_math_val:
                        problems */
                     vseti(VT_LOCAL, loc);
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCC_BCHECK
-                    loc -= tcc_state->do_bounds_check != 0;
+                    if (tcc_state->do_bounds_check)
+                        --loc;
 #endif
                     ret.c = vtop->c;
                     if (ret_nregs < 0)
@@ -7296,23 +7304,6 @@ static void skip_or_save_block(TokenString **str)
     }
 }
 
-static void get_init_string(TokenString **str, int has_init)
-{
-    if (has_init == 2) {
-        *str = tok_str_alloc();
-        /* only get strings */
-        while (tok == TOK_STR || tok == TOK_LSTR) {
-            tok_str_add_tok(*str);
-            next();
-        }
-        tok_str_add(*str, -1);
-        tok_str_add(*str, 0);
-    }
-    else
-        skip_or_save_block(str);
-    unget_tok(0);
-}
-
 #define EXPR_CONST 1
 #define EXPR_ANY   2
 
@@ -7343,10 +7334,22 @@ static void parse_init_elem(int expr_type)
     }
 }
 
-/* put zeros for variable based init */
-static void init_putz(Section *sec, unsigned long c, int size)
+#if 1
+static void init_assert(init_params *p, int offset)
 {
-    if (sec) {
+    if (p->sec ? !NODATA_WANTED && offset > p->sec->data_offset
+               : !nocode_wanted && offset > p->local_offset)
+        tcc_internal_error("initializer overflow");
+}
+#else
+#define init_assert(sec, offset)
+#endif
+
+/* put zeros for variable based init */
+static void init_putz(init_params *p, unsigned long c, int size)
+{
+    init_assert(p, c + size);
+    if (p->sec) {
         /* nothing to do because globals are already set to zero */
     } else {
         vpush_global_sym(&func_old_type, TOK_memset);
@@ -7365,6 +7368,37 @@ static void init_putz(Section *sec, unsigned long c, int size)
 #define DIF_FIRST     1
 #define DIF_SIZE_ONLY 2
 #define DIF_HAVE_ELEM 4
+#define DIF_CLEAR     8
+
+/* delete relocations for specified range c ... c + size. Unfortunatly
+   in very special cases, relocations may occur unordered */
+static void decl_design_delrels(Section *sec, int c, int size)
+{
+    ElfW_Rel *rel, *rel2, *rel_end;
+    if (!sec || !sec->reloc)
+        return;
+    rel = rel2 = (ElfW_Rel*)sec->reloc->data;
+    rel_end = (ElfW_Rel*)(sec->reloc->data + sec->reloc->data_offset);
+    while (rel < rel_end) {
+        if (rel->r_offset >= c && rel->r_offset < c + size) {
+            sec->reloc->data_offset -= sizeof *rel;
+        } else {
+            if (rel2 != rel)
+                memcpy(rel2, rel, sizeof *rel);
+            ++rel2;
+        }
+        ++rel;
+    }
+}
+
+static void decl_design_flex(init_params *p, Sym *ref, int index)
+{
+    if (ref == p->flex_array_ref) {
+        if (index >= ref->c)
+            ref->c = index + 1;
+    } else if (ref->c < 0)
+        tcc_error("flexible array has zero size in this context");
+}
 
 /* t is the array or struct type. c is the array or struct
    address. cur_field is the pointer to the current
@@ -7372,13 +7406,12 @@ static void init_putz(Section *sec, unsigned long c, int size)
    index.  'flags' is as in decl_initializer.
    'al' contains the already initialized length of the
    current container (starting at c).  This returns the new length of that.  */
-static int decl_designator(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
-                           Sym **cur_field, int flags, int al, int size)
+static int decl_designator(init_params *p, CType *type, unsigned long c,
+                           Sym **cur_field, int flags, int al)
 {
     Sym *s, *f;
     int index, index_last, align, l, nb_elems, elem_size;
     unsigned long corig = c;
-    TokenString *init_str = NULL;
 
     elem_size = 0;
     nb_elems = 1;
@@ -7406,9 +7439,9 @@ static int decl_designator(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
             }
             skip(']');
             s = type->ref;
-	    if (index < 0 || (s->c >= 0 && index_last >= s->c) ||
-		index_last < index)
-	        tcc_error("invalid index");
+            decl_design_flex(p, s, index_last);
+            if (index < 0 || index_last >= s->c || index_last < index)
+	        tcc_error("index exceeds array bounds or range is empty");
             if (cur_field)
 		(*cur_field)->c = index_last;
             type = pointed_type(type);
@@ -7444,72 +7477,82 @@ static int decl_designator(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
     no_designator:
         if (type->t & VT_ARRAY) {
 	    index = (*cur_field)->c;
-	    if (type->ref->c >= 0 && index >= type->ref->c)
-	        tcc_error("index too large");
+            s = type->ref;
+            decl_design_flex(p, s, index);
+            if (index >= s->c)
+                tcc_error("too many initializers");
             type = pointed_type(type);
-            c += index * type_size(type, &align);
+            elem_size = type_size(type, &align);
+            c += index * elem_size;
         } else {
             f = *cur_field;
 	    while (f && (f->v & SYM_FIRST_ANOM) && (f->type.t & VT_BITFIELD))
 	        *cur_field = f = f->next;
             if (!f)
-                tcc_error("too many field init");
+                tcc_error("too many initializers");
 	    type = &f->type;
             c += f->c;
         }
     }
 
-    /* must put zero in holes (note that doing it that way
-       ensures that it even works with designators) */
-    if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY)) {
-        int zlen = c - (corig + al);
-        if (type->t & VT_BITFIELD) { /* must include current field too */
-            zlen += type_size(type, &align);
-            if (al + zlen > size)
-                zlen = size - al;
-        }
-        if (zlen > 0)
-	    init_putz(sec, corig + al, zlen);
+    if (!elem_size) /* for structs */
+        elem_size = type_size(type, &align);
+
+    /* Using designators the same element can be initialized more
+       than once.  In that case we need to delete possibly already
+       existing relocations. */
+    if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY) && c - corig < al) {
+        decl_design_delrels(p->sec, c, elem_size * nb_elems);
+        flags &= ~DIF_CLEAR; /* mark stack dirty too */
     }
 
-    if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY) && nb_elems > 1) {
-        get_init_string(&init_str, tok == TOK_STR || tok == TOK_LSTR ? 2 : 0);
-        begin_macro(init_str, 1);
-        next();
-    }
-
-    decl_initializer(type, sec, c, flags & ~DIF_FIRST);
+    decl_initializer(p, type, c, flags & ~DIF_FIRST);
 
     if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY) && nb_elems > 1) {
+        Sym aref = {0};
+        CType t1;
         int i;
-
-        for(i = 1; i < nb_elems; i++) {
-            macro_ptr = init_str->str;
-            next();
-            decl_initializer(type, sec, c + i * elem_size, flags & ~DIF_FIRST);
+        if (p->sec || (type->t & VT_ARRAY)) {
+            /* make init_putv/vstore believe it were a struct */
+            aref.c = elem_size;
+            t1.t = VT_STRUCT, t1.ref = &aref;
+            type = &t1;
         }
-        end_macro();
-        next();
+        if (p->sec)
+            vpush_ref(type, p->sec, c, elem_size);
+        else
+	    vset(type, VT_LOCAL|VT_LVAL, c);
+        for (i = 1; i < nb_elems; i++) {
+            vdup();
+            init_putv(p, type, c + elem_size * i);
+	}
+        vpop();
     }
 
-    c += nb_elems * type_size(type, &align);
+    c += nb_elems * elem_size;
     if (c - corig > al)
       al = c - corig;
     return al;
 }
 
 /* store a value or an expression directly in global data or in local array */
-static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
+static void init_putv(init_params *p, CType *type, unsigned long c)
 {
     int bt;
     void *ptr;
     CType dtype;
+    int size, align;
+    Section *sec = p->sec;
 
     dtype = *type;
     dtype.t &= ~VT_CONSTANT; /* need to do that to avoid false warning */
 
+    size = type_size(type, &align);
+    if (type->t & VT_BITFIELD)
+        size = (BIT_POS(type->t) + BIT_SIZE(type->t) + 7) / 8;
+    init_assert(p, c + size);
+
     if (sec) {
-	int size, align;
         /* XXX: not portable */
         /* XXX: generate error if incorrect relocation */
         gen_assign_cast(&dtype);
@@ -7529,8 +7572,6 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
             return;
         }
 
-	size = type_size(type, &align);
-	section_reserve(sec, c + size);
         ptr = sec->data + c;
 
         /* XXX: make code faster ? */
@@ -7567,12 +7608,6 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
 		      continue;
 		    if (rel->r_offset < esym->st_value)
 		      break;
-		    /* Note: if the same fields are initialized multiple
-		       times (possible with designators) then we possibly
-		       add multiple relocations for the same offset here.
-		       That would lead to wrong code, the last reloc needs
-		       to win.  We clean this up later after the whole
-		       initializer is parsed.  */
 		    put_elf_reloca(symtab_section, sec,
 				   c + rel->r_offset - esym->st_value,
 				   ELFW(R_TYPE)(rel->r_info),
@@ -7610,10 +7645,10 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
 	    case VT_BOOL:
 		vtop->c.i = vtop->c.i != 0;
 	    case VT_BYTE:
-		*(char *)ptr |= vtop->c.i;
+		*(char *)ptr = vtop->c.i;
 		break;
 	    case VT_SHORT:
-		*(short *)ptr |= vtop->c.i;
+		*(short *)ptr = vtop->c.i;
 		break;
 	    case VT_FLOAT:
 		*(float*)ptr = vtop->c.f;
@@ -7642,7 +7677,7 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
 		break;
 #if PTR_SIZE != 8
 	    case VT_LLONG:
-		*(long long *)ptr |= vtop->c.i;
+		*(long long *)ptr = vtop->c.i;
 		break;
 #else
 	    case VT_LLONG:
@@ -7654,11 +7689,11 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
 		    if (vtop->r & VT_SYM)
 		      greloca(sec, vtop->sym, c, R_DATA_PTR, val);
 		    else
-		      *(addr_t *)ptr |= val;
+		      *(addr_t *)ptr = val;
 #else
 		    if (vtop->r & VT_SYM)
 		      greloc(sec, vtop->sym, c, R_DATA_PTR);
-		    *(addr_t *)ptr |= val;
+		    *(addr_t *)ptr = val;
 #endif
 		    break;
 		}
@@ -7669,11 +7704,11 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
 		    if (vtop->r & VT_SYM)
 		      greloca(sec, vtop->sym, c, R_DATA_PTR, val);
 		    else
-		      *(int *)ptr |= val;
+		      *(int *)ptr = val;
 #else
 		    if (vtop->r & VT_SYM)
 		      greloc(sec, vtop->sym, c, R_DATA_PTR);
-		    *(int *)ptr |= val;
+		    *(int *)ptr = val;
 #endif
 		    break;
 		}
@@ -7693,8 +7728,7 @@ static void init_putv(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c)
    allocation. 'flags & DIF_FIRST' is true if array '{' must be read (multi
    dimension implicit array init handling). 'flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY' is true if
    size only evaluation is wanted (only for arrays). */
-static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c, 
-                             int flags)
+static void decl_initializer(init_params *p, CType *type, unsigned long c, int flags)
 {
     int len, n, no_oblock, i;
     int size1, align1;
@@ -7702,13 +7736,17 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
     Sym indexsym;
     CType *t1;
 
+    /* generate line number info */
+    if (!p->sec && tcc_state->do_debug)
+        tcc_debug_line(tcc_state);
+
     if (!(flags & DIF_HAVE_ELEM) && tok != '{' &&
 	/* In case of strings we have special handling for arrays, so
 	   don't consume them as initializer value (which would commit them
 	   to some anonymous symbol).  */
 	tok != TOK_LSTR && tok != TOK_STR &&
 	!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY)) {
-	parse_init_elem(!sec ? EXPR_ANY : EXPR_CONST);
+	parse_init_elem(!p->sec ? EXPR_ANY : EXPR_CONST);
         flags |= DIF_HAVE_ELEM;
     }
 
@@ -7718,23 +7756,21 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
 	   The source type might have VT_CONSTANT set, which is
 	   of course assignable to non-const elements.  */
 	is_compatible_unqualified_types(type, &vtop->type)) {
-        init_putv(type, sec, c);
+        goto init_putv;
+
     } else if (type->t & VT_ARRAY) {
+        no_oblock = 1;
+        if (((flags & DIF_FIRST) && tok != TOK_LSTR && tok != TOK_STR) ||
+            tok == '{') {
+            skip('{');
+            no_oblock = 0;
+        }
+
         s = type->ref;
         n = s->c;
         t1 = pointed_type(type);
         size1 = type_size(t1, &align1);
 
-        no_oblock = 1;
-        if (((flags & DIF_FIRST) && tok != TOK_LSTR && tok != TOK_STR) ||
-            tok == '{') {
-            if (tok != '{')
-                tcc_error("character array initializer must be a literal,"
-                    " optionally enclosed in braces");
-            skip('{');
-            no_oblock = 0;
-        }
-
         /* only parse strings here if correct type (otherwise: handle
            them as ((w)char *) expressions */
         if ((tok == TOK_LSTR && 
@@ -7744,7 +7780,6 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
              (t1->t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_INT
 #endif
             ) || (tok == TOK_STR && (t1->t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_BYTE)) {
-            int nb;
 	    len = 0;
             cstr_reset(&initstr);
             if (size1 != (tok == TOK_STR ? 1 : sizeof(nwchar_t)))
@@ -7766,54 +7801,61 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
                 unget_tok(size1 == 1 ? TOK_STR : TOK_LSTR);
                 tokc.str.size = initstr.size;
                 tokc.str.data = initstr.data;
-                indexsym.c = 0;
-                f = &indexsym;
-                goto do_init_list;
+                goto do_init_array;
             }
-            nb = len;
-            if (n >= 0 && len > n)
-              nb = n;
+
             if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY)) {
-                if (sec && !NODATA_WANTED &&
-                    (c + nb > sec->data_allocated))
-                  nb = sec->data_allocated - c;
+                int nb = n;
+                if (len < nb)
+                    nb = len;
                 if (len > nb)
                   tcc_warning("initializer-string for array is too long");
                 /* in order to go faster for common case (char
                    string in global variable, we handle it
                    specifically */
-                if (sec && size1 == 1) {
+                if (p->sec && size1 == 1) {
+                    init_assert(p, c + nb);
                     if (!NODATA_WANTED)
-                      memcpy(sec->data + c, initstr.data, nb);
+                      memcpy(p->sec->data + c, initstr.data, nb);
                 } else {
-                    for(i=0;i<nb;i++) {
-                        if (size1 == 1)
+                    for(i=0;i<n;i++) {
+                        if (i >= nb) {
+                          /* only add trailing zero if enough storage (no
+                             warning in this case since it is standard) */
+                          if (flags & DIF_CLEAR)
+                            break;
+                          if (n - i >= 4) {
+                            init_putz(p, c + i * size1, (n - i) * size1);
+                            break;
+                          }
+                          ch = 0;
+                        } else if (size1 == 1)
                           ch = ((unsigned char *)initstr.data)[i];
                         else
                           ch = ((nwchar_t *)initstr.data)[i];
                         vpushi(ch);
-                        init_putv(t1, sec, c + i * size1);
+                        init_putv(p, t1, c + i * size1);
                     }
                 }
+            } else {
+                decl_design_flex(p, s, len);
             }
-            /* only add trailing zero if enough storage (no
-               warning in this case since it is standard) */
-            if (n < 0 || len < n) {
-                if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY)) {
-		    vpushi(0);
-                    init_putv(t1, sec, c + (len * size1));
-                }
-                len++;
-            }
-	    len *= size1;
         } else {
+
+          do_init_array:
 	    indexsym.c = 0;
 	    f = &indexsym;
 
           do_init_list:
+            /* zero memory once in advance */
+            if (!(flags & (DIF_CLEAR | DIF_SIZE_ONLY))) {
+                init_putz(p, c, n*size1);
+                flags |= DIF_CLEAR;
+            }
+
 	    len = 0;
 	    while (tok != '}' || (flags & DIF_HAVE_ELEM)) {
-		len = decl_designator(type, sec, c, &f, flags, len, n*size1);
+		len = decl_designator(p, type, c, &f, flags, len);
 		flags &= ~DIF_HAVE_ELEM;
 		if (type->t & VT_ARRAY) {
 		    ++indexsym.c;
@@ -7836,16 +7878,9 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
 		skip(',');
 	    }
         }
-        /* put zeros at the end */
-	if (!(flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY) && len < n*size1)
-	    init_putz(sec, c + len, n*size1 - len);
         if (!no_oblock)
             skip('}');
-        /* patch type size if needed, which happens only for array types */
-        if (n < 0)
-            s->c = size1 == 1 ? len : ((len + size1 - 1)/size1);
     } else if ((type->t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_STRUCT) {
-	size1 = 1;
         no_oblock = 1;
         if ((flags & DIF_FIRST) || tok == '{') {
             skip('{');
@@ -7854,12 +7889,13 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
         s = type->ref;
         f = s->next;
         n = s->c;
+        size1 = 1;
 	goto do_init_list;
     } else if (tok == '{') {
         if (flags & DIF_HAVE_ELEM)
           skip(';');
         next();
-        decl_initializer(type, sec, c, flags & ~DIF_HAVE_ELEM);
+        decl_initializer(p, type, c, flags & ~DIF_HAVE_ELEM);
         skip('}');
     } else if ((flags & DIF_SIZE_ONLY)) {
 	/* If we supported only ISO C we wouldn't have to accept calling
@@ -7877,9 +7913,17 @@ static void decl_initializer(CType *type, Section *sec, unsigned long c,
 	       string constant to memory too early.  */
 	    if (tok != TOK_STR && tok != TOK_LSTR)
 	      expect("string constant");
-	    parse_init_elem(!sec ? EXPR_ANY : EXPR_CONST);
+	    parse_init_elem(!p->sec ? EXPR_ANY : EXPR_CONST);
 	}
-        init_putv(type, sec, c);
+    init_putv:
+        if (!p->sec && (flags & DIF_CLEAR) /* container was already zero'd */
+            && (vtop->r & (VT_VALMASK | VT_LVAL | VT_SYM)) == VT_CONST
+            && vtop->c.i == 0
+            && btype_size(type->t & VT_BTYPE) /* not for fp constants */
+            )
+            vpop();
+        else
+            init_putv(p, type, c);
     }
 }
 
@@ -7903,38 +7947,60 @@ static void decl_initializer_alloc(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int r,
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCC_BCHECK
     int bcheck = tcc_state->do_bounds_check && !NODATA_WANTED;
 #endif
+    init_params p = {0};
 
     /* Always allocate static or global variables */
     if (v && (r & VT_VALMASK) == VT_CONST)
         nocode_wanted |= 0x80000000;
 
     flexible_array = NULL;
-    if ((type->t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_STRUCT) {
+    size = type_size(type, &align);
+
+    /* exactly one flexible array may be initialized, either the
+       toplevel array or the last member of the toplevel struct */
+
+    if (size < 0) {
+        /* If the base type itself was an array type of unspecified size
+           (like in 'typedef int arr[]; arr x = {1};') then we will
+           overwrite the unknown size by the real one for this decl.
+           We need to unshare the ref symbol holding that size. */
+        type->ref = sym_push(SYM_FIELD, &type->ref->type, 0, type->ref->c);
+        p.flex_array_ref = type->ref;
+
+    } else if (has_init && (type->t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_STRUCT) {
         Sym *field = type->ref->next;
         if (field) {
             while (field->next)
                 field = field->next;
-            if (field->type.t & VT_ARRAY && field->type.ref->c < 0)
+            if (field->type.t & VT_ARRAY && field->type.ref->c < 0) {
                 flexible_array = field;
+                p.flex_array_ref = field->type.ref;
+                size = -1;
+            }
         }
     }
 
-    size = type_size(type, &align);
-    /* If unknown size, we must evaluate it before
-       evaluating initializers because
-       initializers can generate global data too
-       (e.g. string pointers or ISOC99 compound
-       literals). It also simplifies local
-       initializers handling */
-    if (size < 0 || (flexible_array && has_init)) {
+    if (size < 0) {
+        /* If unknown size, do a dry-run 1st pass */
         if (!has_init) 
             tcc_error("unknown type size");
-        get_init_string(&init_str, has_init);
+        if (has_init == 2) {
+            /* only get strings */
+            init_str = tok_str_alloc();
+            while (tok == TOK_STR || tok == TOK_LSTR) {
+                tok_str_add_tok(init_str);
+                next();
+            }
+            tok_str_add(init_str, -1);
+            tok_str_add(init_str, 0);
+        } else
+            skip_or_save_block(&init_str);
+        unget_tok(0);
 
         /* compute size */
         begin_macro(init_str, 1);
         next();
-        decl_initializer(type, NULL, 0, DIF_FIRST | DIF_SIZE_ONLY);
+        decl_initializer(&p, type, 0, DIF_FIRST | DIF_SIZE_ONLY);
         /* prepare second initializer parsing */
         macro_ptr = init_str->str;
         next();
@@ -7943,13 +8009,14 @@ static void decl_initializer_alloc(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int r,
         size = type_size(type, &align);
         if (size < 0) 
             tcc_error("unknown type size");
+
+        /* If there's a flex member and it was used in the initializer
+           adjust size.  */
+        if (flexible_array && flexible_array->type.ref->c > 0)
+            size += flexible_array->type.ref->c
+                    * pointed_size(&flexible_array->type);
     }
-    /* If there's a flex member and it was used in the initializer
-       adjust size.  */
-    if (flexible_array &&
-	flexible_array->type.ref->c > 0)
-        size += flexible_array->type.ref->c
-	        * pointed_size(&flexible_array->type);
+
     /* take into account specified alignment if bigger */
     if (ad->a.aligned) {
 	int speca = 1 << (ad->a.aligned - 1);
@@ -7972,6 +8039,7 @@ static void decl_initializer_alloc(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int r,
 #endif
         loc = (loc - size) & -align;
         addr = loc;
+        p.local_offset = addr + size;
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCC_BCHECK
         if (bcheck && v) {
             /* add padding between stack variables for bound checking */
@@ -8088,12 +8156,8 @@ static void decl_initializer_alloc(CType *type, AttributeDef *ad, int r,
         cur_scope->vla.loc = addr;
         cur_scope->vla.num++;
     } else if (has_init) {
-	size_t oldreloc_offset = 0;
-	if (sec && sec->reloc)
-	  oldreloc_offset = sec->reloc->data_offset;
-        decl_initializer(type, sec, addr, DIF_FIRST);
-	if (sec && sec->reloc)
-	  squeeze_multi_relocs(sec, oldreloc_offset);
+        p.sec = sec;
+        decl_initializer(&p, type, addr, DIF_FIRST);
         /* patch flexible array member size back to -1, */
         /* for possible subsequent similar declarations */
         if (flexible_array)
@@ -8288,14 +8352,6 @@ static int decl0(int l, int is_for_loop_init, Sym *func_sym)
         }
         while (1) { /* iterate thru each declaration */
             type = btype;
-	    /* If the base type itself was an array type of unspecified
-	       size (like in 'typedef int arr[]; arr x = {1};') then
-	       we will overwrite the unknown size by the real one for
-	       this decl.  We need to unshare the ref symbol holding
-	       that size.  */
-	    if ((type.t & VT_ARRAY) && type.ref->c < 0) {
-		type.ref = sym_push(SYM_FIELD, &type.ref->type, 0, type.ref->c);
-	    }
 	    ad = adbase;
             type_decl(&type, &ad, &v, TYPE_DIRECT);
 #if 0
diff --git a/tccpp.c b/tccpp.c
index 74ce9954..2c0dab94 100644
--- a/tccpp.c
+++ b/tccpp.c
@@ -2586,7 +2586,7 @@ static void parse_number(const char *p)
         tokc.i = n;
     }
     if (ch)
-        tcc_error("invalid number\n");
+        tcc_error("invalid number");
 }
 
 
@@ -3674,20 +3674,20 @@ static void tcc_predefs(CString *cstr)
     "#define __builtin_va_copy(dest,src) (dest)=(src)\n"
     "#endif\n"
     "#ifdef __leading_underscore\n"
-    "#define RENAME(X) __asm__(\"_\"X)\n"
+    "#define __RENAME(X) __asm__(\"_\"X)\n"
     "#else\n"
-    "#define RENAME(X) __asm__(X)\n"
+    "#define __RENAME(X) __asm__(X)\n"
     "#endif\n"
     /* TCC BBUILTIN AND BOUNDS ALIASES */
     "#ifdef __BOUNDS_CHECKING_ON\n"
-    "#define __BUILTINBC(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params RENAME(\"__bound_\"#name);\n"
-    "#define __BOUND(ret,name,params) ret name params RENAME(\"__bound_\"#name);\n"
+    "#define __BUILTINBC(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params __RENAME(\"__bound_\"#name);\n"
+    "#define __BOUND(ret,name,params) ret name params __RENAME(\"__bound_\"#name);\n"
     "#else\n"
-    "#define __BUILTINBC(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params RENAME(#name);\n"
+    "#define __BUILTINBC(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params __RENAME(#name);\n"
     "#define __BOUND(ret,name,params)\n"
     "#endif\n"
     "#define __BOTH(ret,name,params) __BUILTINBC(ret,name,params)__BOUND(ret,name,params)\n"
-    "#define __BUILTIN(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params RENAME(#name);\n"
+    "#define __BUILTIN(ret,name,params) ret __builtin_##name params __RENAME(#name);\n"
     "__BOTH(void*,memcpy,(void*,const void*,__SIZE_TYPE__))\n"
     "__BOTH(void*,memmove,(void*,const void*,__SIZE_TYPE__))\n"
     "__BOTH(void*,memset,(void*,int,__SIZE_TYPE__))\n"
@@ -3731,6 +3731,7 @@ static void tcc_predefs(CString *cstr)
     "#undef __BOUND\n"
     "#undef __BOTH\n"
     "#undef __MAYBE_REDIR\n"
+    "#undef __RENAME\n"
     , -1);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.c b/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.c
index fd4367a1..ede00186 100644
--- a/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.c
+++ b/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.c
@@ -346,4 +346,13 @@ static struct var_len { int i; const char str[]; } var_array[] =
   { 2, "longlonglonglonglong" },
   { 3, "tst3" } };
 
+#elif defined test_var_array2
+
+struct c1 { int a; int b[]; };
+struct c1 c1 = { 1, { 2, 3, 4 } };
+
+struct c2 { int c; struct c1 c1; };
+struct c2 c2 = { 1, { 2, { 3, 4, 5 }}};
+
+/******************************************************************/
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.expect b/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.expect
index 984e4c18..8705f40b 100644
--- a/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.expect
+++ b/tests/tests2/60_errors_and_warnings.expect
@@ -161,4 +161,7 @@ bar  : 3 ; 3
 \n
 
 [test_var_array]
-60_errors_and_warnings.c:345: warning: initializer-string for array is too long
+60_errors_and_warnings.c:345: error: flexible array has zero size in this context
+
+[test_var_array2]
+60_errors_and_warnings.c:355: error: flexible array has zero size in this context
diff --git a/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.c b/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.c
index e3535bd0..1dae3c92 100644
--- a/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.c
+++ b/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.c
@@ -221,19 +221,66 @@ void sys_ni(void) { printf("ni\n"); }
 void sys_one(void) { printf("one\n"); }
 void sys_two(void) { printf("two\n"); }
 void sys_three(void) { printf("three\n"); }
+void sys_four(void) { printf("four\n"); }
 typedef void (*fptr)(void);
-const fptr table[3] = {
-    [0 ... 2] = &sys_ni,
-    [0] = sys_one,
-    [1] = sys_two,
-    [2] = sys_three,
-};
+
+#define array_size(a) (sizeof a / sizeof a[0])
 
 void test_multi_relocs(void)
 {
   int i;
-  for (i = 0; i < sizeof(table)/sizeof(table[0]); i++)
-    table[i]();
+
+  static const fptr tabl1[4] = {
+      [0 ... 3] = &sys_ni,
+      [0] = sys_one,
+      [1] = sys_two,
+      [2] = sys_three,
+      sys_four,
+      [1 ... 2] = &sys_ni,
+      [1] = 0,
+  };
+  for (i = 0; i < array_size(tabl1); i++)
+    if (tabl1[i])
+      tabl1[i]();
+    else
+      printf("(0)\n");
+
+  const fptr tabl2[4] = {
+      [0 ... 3] = &sys_ni,
+      [0] = sys_one,
+      [1] = sys_two,
+      [2] = sys_three,
+      sys_four,
+      [1 ... 2] = &sys_ni,
+      [1] = 0,
+  };
+  for (i = 0; i < array_size(tabl2); i++)
+    if (tabl2[i])
+      tabl2[i]();
+    else
+      printf("(0)\n");
+
+  int c = 0;
+  int dd[] = {
+    [0 ... 1] = ++c,
+    [2 ... 3] = ++c
+  };
+  for (i = 0; i < array_size(dd); i++)
+    printf(" %d", dd[i]);
+  printf("\n");
+
+  /* multi-dimensional flex array with range initializers */
+  static char m1[][2][3] = {[0 ... 2]={{3,4,5},{6,7,8}},{{9},10},"abc"};
+  char        m2[][2][3] = {[0 ... 2]={{3,4,5},{6,7,8}},{{9},10},"abc"};
+  int g, j, k;
+  for (g = 2; g-- > 0;) {
+    printf("mdfa %s: %d -", "locl\0glob" + g * 5, sizeof m1);
+    for (i = 0; i < array_size(m1); i++)
+    for (j = 0; j < array_size(m1[0]); j++)
+    for (k = 0; k < array_size(m1[0][0]); k++)
+      printf(" %d", (g ? m1:m2)[i][j][k]);
+    printf("\n");
+  }
 }
 
 void test_init_ranges(void) {
diff --git a/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.expect b/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.expect
index 70b9de1b..1b7b171e 100644
--- a/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.expect
+++ b/tests/tests2/90_struct-init.expect
@@ -41,8 +41,16 @@ lssu2: 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
 flow: 9 8 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 5 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 ls4: 1 2 3 4
 one
-two
-three
+(0)
+ni
+four
+one
+(0)
+ni
+four
+ 1 1 2 2
+mdfa glob: 30 - 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 0 10 0 0 97 98 99 0 0 0
+mdfa locl: 30 - 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 0 10 0 0 97 98 99 0 0 0
 sea_fill0: okay
 sea_fill1: okay
 sea_fill2: okay