diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
index a40332d6ac..49a11e0019 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
@@ -146,30 +146,23 @@ pub fn (cty ComptimeType) str() string {
 	}
 }
 
-pub struct EmptyExpr {
-	x int
-}
-
-pub fn empty_expr() Expr {
-	return EmptyExpr{}
-}
+pub type EmptyExpr = u8
 
 pub struct EmptyStmt {
 pub:
 	pos token.Pos
 }
 
-pub fn empty_stmt() Stmt {
-	return EmptyStmt{}
-}
-
 pub struct EmptyNode {
-	x int
+pub:
+	pos token.Pos
 }
 
-pub fn empty_node() Node {
-	return EmptyNode{}
-}
+pub const empty_expr = Expr(EmptyExpr(0))
+
+pub const empty_stmt = Stmt(EmptyStmt{})
+
+pub const empty_node = Node(EmptyNode{})
 
 // `{stmts}` or `unsafe {stmts}`
 pub struct Block {
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/comptime_const_values.v b/vlib/v/ast/comptime_const_values.v
index 860671f482..450aeee150 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/comptime_const_values.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/comptime_const_values.v
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ pub type ComptTimeConstValue = EmptyExpr
 	| u8
 
 pub fn empty_comptime_const_expr() ComptTimeConstValue {
-	return EmptyExpr{}
+	return EmptyExpr(0)
 }
 
 pub fn (val ComptTimeConstValue) i8() ?i8 {
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/init.v b/vlib/v/ast/init.v
index 8c0e1b6090..08177bf1e7 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/init.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/init.v
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ pub fn resolve_init(node StructInit, typ Type, t &Table) Expr {
 		mut has_len := false
 		mut has_cap := false
 		mut has_default := false
-		mut len_expr := empty_expr()
-		mut cap_expr := empty_expr()
-		mut default_expr := empty_expr()
+		mut len_expr := empty_expr
+		mut cap_expr := empty_expr
+		mut default_expr := empty_expr
 		mut exprs := []Expr{}
 		for field in node.fields {
 			match field.name {
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/table.v b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
index b60414ff48..74b018fdc7 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/table.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
@@ -1432,7 +1432,7 @@ pub fn (mut t Table) bitsize_to_type(bit_size int) Type {
 			if bit_size % 8 != 0 { // there is no way to do `i2131(32)` so this should never be reached
 				t.panic('compiler bug: bitsizes must be multiples of 8')
 			}
-			return new_type(t.find_or_register_array_fixed(u8_type, bit_size / 8, empty_expr()))
+			return new_type(t.find_or_register_array_fixed(u8_type, bit_size / 8, empty_expr))
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 32a62df29b..0388b75218 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -3103,7 +3103,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) find_obj_definition(obj ast.ScopeObject) ?ast.Expr {
 	match obj {
 		ast.Var, ast.ConstField, ast.GlobalField, ast.AsmRegister { name = obj.name }
 	}
-	mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut expr := ast.empty_expr
 	if obj is ast.Var {
 		if obj.is_mut {
 			return error('`$name` is mut and may have changed since its definition')
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/containers.v b/vlib/v/checker/containers.v
index cfa774eda2..a2e87e2d78 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/containers.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/containers.v
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) array_init(mut node ast.ArrayInit) ast.Type {
 			}
 		}
 		if node.is_fixed {
-			idx := c.table.find_or_register_array_fixed(elem_type, node.exprs.len, ast.empty_expr())
+			idx := c.table.find_or_register_array_fixed(elem_type, node.exprs.len, ast.empty_expr)
 			if elem_type.has_flag(.generic) {
 				node.typ = ast.new_type(idx).set_flag(.generic)
 			} else {
diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
index 28a1364c3c..bb2a1bd58c 100644
--- a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ pub fn (mut f Fmt) node_str(node ast.Node) string {
 //=== General Stmt-related methods and helpers ===//
 
 pub fn (mut f Fmt) stmts(stmts []ast.Stmt) {
-	mut prev_stmt := if stmts.len > 0 { stmts[0] } else { ast.empty_stmt() }
+	mut prev_stmt := if stmts.len > 0 { stmts[0] } else { ast.empty_stmt }
 	f.indent++
 	for stmt in stmts {
 		if !f.pref.building_v && f.should_insert_newline_before_node(stmt, prev_stmt) {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
index dde7af6aa5..38c6553db8 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ pub fn gen(files []&ast.File, table &ast.Table, pref &pref.Preferences) string {
 		module_built: module_built
 		timers_should_print: timers_should_print
 		timers: util.new_timers(should_print: timers_should_print, label: 'global_cgen')
-		inner_loop: &ast.EmptyStmt{}
+		inner_loop: &ast.empty_stmt
 		field_data_type: ast.Type(table.find_type_idx('FieldData'))
 		is_cc_msvc: pref.ccompiler == 'msvc'
 		use_segfault_handler: !('no_segfault_handler' in pref.compile_defines || pref.os == .wasm32)
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ fn cgen_process_one_file_cb(p &pool.PoolProcessor, idx int, wid int) &Gen {
 			should_print: global_g.timers_should_print
 			label: 'cgen_process_one_file_cb idx: $idx, wid: $wid'
 		)
-		inner_loop: &ast.EmptyStmt{}
+		inner_loop: &ast.empty_stmt
 		field_data_type: ast.Type(global_g.table.find_type_idx('FieldData'))
 		array_sort_fn: global_g.array_sort_fn
 		waiter_fns: global_g.waiter_fns
@@ -3704,7 +3704,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) select_expr(node ast.SelectExpr) {
 	mut is_push := []bool{cap: n_channels}
 	mut has_else := false
 	mut has_timeout := false
-	mut timeout_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut timeout_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	mut exception_branch := -1
 	for j, branch in node.branches {
 		if branch.is_else {
@@ -3727,7 +3727,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) select_expr(node ast.SelectExpr) {
 						elem_types << ''
 					} else {
 						// must be evaluated to tmp var before real `select` is performed
-						objs << ast.empty_expr()
+						objs << ast.empty_expr
 						tmp_obj := g.new_tmp_var()
 						tmp_objs << tmp_obj
 						el_stype := g.typ(ast.mktyp(expr.right_type))
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/infix.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/infix.v
index 4b0c778b25..764c5519ba 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/infix.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/infix.v
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) infix_expr_in_op(node ast.InfixExpr) {
 				if elem_sym.kind == .sum_type && left.sym.kind != .sum_type {
 					if node.left_type in elem_sym.sumtype_info().variants {
 						new_node_left := ast.CastExpr{
-							arg: ast.EmptyExpr{}
+							arg: ast.empty_expr
 							typ: elem_type
 							expr: node.left
 							expr_type: node.left_type
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) infix_expr_in_op(node ast.InfixExpr) {
 			if elem_type_.sym.kind == .sum_type {
 				if node.left_type in elem_type_.sym.sumtype_info().variants {
 					new_node_left := ast.CastExpr{
-						arg: ast.EmptyExpr{}
+						arg: ast.empty_expr
 						typ: elem_type
 						expr: node.left
 						expr_type: node.left_type
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) infix_expr_in_op(node ast.InfixExpr) {
 			if elem_type_.sym.kind == .sum_type {
 				if node.left_type in elem_type_.sym.sumtype_info().variants {
 					new_node_left := ast.CastExpr{
-						arg: ast.EmptyExpr{}
+						arg: ast.empty_expr
 						typ: elem_type
 						expr: node.left
 						expr_type: node.left_type
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v b/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
index d471d159c7..29fc8b23c8 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ pub fn (mut f Gen) node_str(node ast.Node) string {
 //=== General Stmt-related methods and helpers ===//
 
 pub fn (mut f Gen) stmts(stmts []ast.Stmt) {
-	mut prev_stmt := if stmts.len > 0 { stmts[0] } else { ast.empty_stmt() }
+	mut prev_stmt := if stmts.len > 0 { stmts[0] } else { ast.empty_stmt }
 	f.indent++
 	for stmt in stmts {
 		if !f.pref.building_v && f.should_insert_newline_before_node(stmt, prev_stmt) {
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/assign.v b/vlib/v/parser/assign.v
index 7ff8a48685..d256df0d98 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/assign.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/assign.v
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) partial_assign_stmt(left []ast.Expr, left_comments []ast.Comme
 					}
 					mut v := ast.Var{
 						name: lx.name
-						expr: if left.len == right.len { right[i] } else { ast.empty_expr() }
+						expr: if left.len == right.len { right[i] } else { ast.empty_expr }
 						share: share
 						is_mut: lx.is_mut || p.inside_for
 						pos: lx.pos
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/containers.v b/vlib/v/parser/containers.v
index 29579d0cf9..39cf19b5af 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/containers.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/containers.v
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) array_init() ast.ArrayInit {
 	mut has_type := false
 	mut has_default := false
 	mut has_it := false
-	mut default_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut default_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	if p.tok.kind == .rsbr {
 		last_pos = p.tok.pos()
 		// []typ => `[]` and `typ` must be on the same line
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ fn (mut p Parser) array_init() ast.ArrayInit {
 	}
 	mut has_len := false
 	mut has_cap := false
-	mut len_expr := ast.empty_expr()
-	mut cap_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut len_expr := ast.empty_expr
+	mut cap_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	if p.tok.kind == .lcbr && exprs.len == 0 && array_type != ast.void_type {
 		// `[]int{ len: 10, cap: 100}` syntax
 		p.next()
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/expr.v b/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
index 5541be252e..520ca34abd 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import v.token
 pub fn (mut p Parser) expr(precedence int) ast.Expr {
 	return p.check_expr(precedence) or {
 		if token.is_decl(p.tok.kind) && p.disallow_declarations_in_script_mode() {
-			return ast.empty_expr()
+			return ast.empty_expr
 		}
 		p.error_with_pos('invalid expression: unexpected $p.tok', p.tok.pos())
 	}
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) expr(precedence int) ast.Expr {
 
 pub fn (mut p Parser) check_expr(precedence int) ?ast.Expr {
 	p.trace_parser('expr($precedence)')
-	mut node := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut node := ast.empty_expr
 	is_stmt_ident := p.is_stmt_ident
 	p.is_stmt_ident = false
 	if !p.pref.is_fmt {
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) infix_expr(left ast.Expr) ast.Expr {
 	if p.inside_if_cond {
 		p.if_cond_comments << p.eat_comments()
 	}
-	mut right := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut right := ast.empty_expr
 	prev_expecting_type := p.expecting_type
 	if op in [.key_is, .not_is] {
 		p.expecting_type = true
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/fn.v b/vlib/v/parser/fn.v
index 90b7de8d2e..cccb74505c 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/fn.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/fn.v
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) call_args() []ast.CallArg {
 			p.next()
 			array_decompose = true
 		}
-		mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut expr := ast.empty_expr
 		if p.tok.kind == .name && p.peek_tok.kind == .colon {
 			// `foo(key:val, key2:val2)`
 			expr = p.struct_init('void_type', .short_syntax)
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/for.v b/vlib/v/parser/for.v
index beaab31a3e..abb1865a36 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/for.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/for.v
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ fn (mut p Parser) for_stmt() ast.Stmt {
 		if p.tok.kind == .key_mut {
 			return p.error('`mut` is not needed in `for ;;` loops: use `for i := 0; i < n; i ++ {`')
 		}
-		mut init := ast.empty_stmt()
+		mut init := ast.empty_stmt
 		mut cond := p.new_true_expr()
-		mut inc := ast.empty_stmt()
+		mut inc := ast.empty_stmt
 		mut has_init := false
 		mut has_cond := false
 		mut has_inc := false
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) for_stmt() ast.Stmt {
 		// 0 .. 10
 		// start := p.tok.lit.int()
 		// TODO use RangeExpr
-		mut high_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut high_expr := ast.empty_expr
 		mut is_range := false
 		if p.tok.kind == .dotdot {
 			is_range = true
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/if_match.v b/vlib/v/parser/if_match.v
index 28e08a5b08..1c88b2191d 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/if_match.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/if_match.v
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) if_expr(is_comptime bool) ast.IfExpr {
 			return ast.IfExpr{}
 		}
 		comments << p.eat_comments()
-		mut cond := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut cond := ast.empty_expr
 		mut is_guard := false
 
 		// if guard `if x,y := opt() {`
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) select_expr() ast.SelectExpr {
 		// final else
 		mut is_else := false
 		mut is_timeout := false
-		mut stmt := ast.empty_stmt()
+		mut stmt := ast.empty_stmt
 		if p.tok.kind == .key_else {
 			if has_timeout {
 				p.error_with_pos('timeout `> t` and `else` are mutually exclusive `select` keys',
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
index 84b9298a37..c6328b6db4 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) top_stmt() ast.Stmt {
 				return p.comment_stmt()
 			}
 			else {
-				return p.other_stmts(ast.empty_stmt())
+				return p.other_stmts(ast.empty_stmt)
 			}
 		}
 		if p.should_abort {
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) top_stmt() ast.Stmt {
 	}
 	// TODO remove dummy return statement
 	// the compiler complains if it's not there
-	return ast.empty_stmt()
+	return ast.empty_stmt
 }
 
 fn comptime_if_expr_contains_top_stmt(if_expr ast.IfExpr) bool {
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) other_stmts(cur_stmt ast.Stmt) ast.Stmt {
 
 		p.open_scope()
 		mut stmts := []ast.Stmt{}
-		if cur_stmt != ast.empty_stmt() {
+		if cur_stmt != ast.empty_stmt {
 			stmts << cur_stmt
 		}
 		for p.tok.kind != .eof {
@@ -1707,7 +1707,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) parse_attr() ast.Attr {
 	mut name := ''
 	mut has_arg := false
 	mut arg := ''
-	mut comptime_cond := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut comptime_cond := ast.empty_expr
 	mut comptime_cond_opt := false
 	if p.tok.kind == .key_if {
 		kind = .comptime_define
@@ -2191,7 +2191,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) is_generic_cast() bool {
 
 pub fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() ast.Expr {
 	prev_tok_kind := p.prev_tok.kind
-	mut node := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut node := ast.empty_expr
 	if p.expecting_type {
 		if p.tok.kind == .dollar {
 			node = p.parse_comptime_type()
@@ -2249,7 +2249,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() ast.Expr {
 		chan_type := p.parse_chan_type()
 		elem_type_pos = elem_type_pos.extend(p.prev_tok.pos())
 		mut has_cap := false
-		mut cap_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut cap_expr := ast.empty_expr
 		p.check(.lcbr)
 		if p.tok.kind == .rcbr {
 			last_pos = p.tok.pos()
@@ -2380,8 +2380,8 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() ast.Expr {
 			// without the next line int would result in int*
 			p.is_amp = false
 			p.check(.lpar)
-			mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
-			mut arg := ast.empty_expr()
+			mut expr := ast.empty_expr
+			mut arg := ast.empty_expr
 			mut has_arg := false
 			expr = p.expr(0)
 			// TODO, string(b, len)
@@ -2505,7 +2505,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) name_expr() ast.Expr {
 				typ: to_typ
 				typname: p.table.sym(to_typ).name
 				expr: expr
-				arg: ast.empty_expr()
+				arg: ast.empty_expr
 				has_arg: false
 				pos: start_pos.extend(end_pos)
 			}
@@ -2535,7 +2535,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) index_expr(left ast.Expr, is_gated bool) ast.IndexExpr {
 		has_low = false
 		// [..end]
 		p.next()
-		mut high := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut high := ast.empty_expr
 		mut has_high := false
 		if p.tok.kind != .rsbr {
 			high = p.expr(0)
@@ -2564,7 +2564,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) index_expr(left ast.Expr, is_gated bool) ast.IndexExpr {
 					left: left
 					pos: pos_high
 					index: ast.RangeExpr{
-						low: ast.empty_expr()
+						low: ast.empty_expr
 						high: high
 						has_high: has_high
 						pos: pos_high
@@ -2590,7 +2590,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) index_expr(left ast.Expr, is_gated bool) ast.IndexExpr {
 			left: left
 			pos: pos_high
 			index: ast.RangeExpr{
-				low: ast.empty_expr()
+				low: ast.empty_expr
 				high: high
 				has_high: has_high
 				pos: pos_high
@@ -2610,7 +2610,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) index_expr(left ast.Expr, is_gated bool) ast.IndexExpr {
 	if p.tok.kind == .dotdot {
 		// either [start..end] or [start..]
 		p.next()
-		mut high := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut high := ast.empty_expr
 		if p.tok.kind != .rsbr {
 			has_high = true
 			high = p.expr(0)
@@ -2977,7 +2977,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) string_expr() ast.Expr {
 	if is_raw || is_cstr {
 		p.next()
 	}
-	mut node := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut node := ast.empty_expr
 	val := p.tok.lit
 	mut pos := p.tok.pos()
 	pos.last_line = pos.line_nr + val.count('\n')
@@ -3090,7 +3090,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) parse_number_literal() ast.Expr {
 	}
 	lit := p.tok.lit
 	full_lit := if is_neg { '-' + lit } else { lit }
-	mut node := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut node := ast.empty_expr
 	if lit.index_any('.eE') >= 0 && lit[..2] !in ['0x', '0X', '0o', '0O', '0b', '0B'] {
 		node = ast.FloatLiteral{
 			val: full_lit
@@ -3498,7 +3498,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) global_decl() ast.GlobalDecl {
 		pos := p.tok.pos()
 		name := p.check_name()
 		has_expr := p.tok.kind == .assign
-		mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut expr := ast.empty_expr
 		mut typ := ast.void_type
 		mut typ_pos := token.Pos{}
 		if has_expr {
@@ -3596,7 +3596,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) enum_decl() ast.EnumDecl {
 		pos := p.tok.pos()
 		val := p.check_name()
 		vals << val
-		mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut expr := ast.empty_expr
 		mut has_expr := false
 		// p.warn('enum val $val')
 		if p.tok.kind == .assign {
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/sql.v b/vlib/v/parser/sql.v
index da9f2f0b4a..b892e9ac39 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/sql.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/sql.v
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) sql_expr() ast.Expr {
 	}
 	table_pos := p.tok.pos()
 	table_type := p.parse_type() // `User`
-	mut where_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut where_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	has_where := p.tok.kind == .name && p.tok.lit == 'where'
 	mut query_one := false // one object is returned, not an array
 	if has_where {
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ fn (mut p Parser) sql_expr() ast.Expr {
 		}
 	}
 	mut has_limit := false
-	mut limit_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut limit_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	mut has_offset := false
-	mut offset_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut offset_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	mut has_order := false
-	mut order_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut order_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	mut has_desc := false
 	if p.tok.kind == .name && p.tok.lit == 'order' {
 		p.check_name() // `order`
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) parse_sql_stmt_line() ast.SqlStmtLine {
 	}
 
 	mut table_pos := p.tok.pos()
-	mut where_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut where_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	if kind == .insert {
 		table_pos = p.tok.pos()
 		table_type = p.parse_type()
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/struct.v b/vlib/v/parser/struct.v
index 45b468b426..b8069ac0d7 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/struct.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/struct.v
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) struct_decl(is_anon bool) ast.StructDecl {
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			mut default_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+			mut default_expr := ast.empty_expr
 			mut has_default_expr := false
 			if !is_embed {
 				if p.tok.kind == .assign {
@@ -402,12 +402,12 @@ fn (mut p Parser) struct_init(typ_str string, kind ast.StructInitKind) ast.Struc
 	no_keys := p.peek_tok.kind != .colon && p.tok.kind != .rcbr && p.tok.kind != .ellipsis // `Vec{a,b,c}
 	saved_is_amp := p.is_amp
 	p.is_amp = false
-	mut update_expr := ast.empty_expr()
+	mut update_expr := ast.empty_expr
 	mut update_expr_comments := []ast.Comment{}
 	mut has_update_expr := false
 	for p.tok.kind !in [.rcbr, .rpar, .eof] {
 		mut field_name := ''
-		mut expr := ast.empty_expr()
+		mut expr := ast.empty_expr
 		mut field_pos := token.Pos{}
 		mut first_field_pos := token.Pos{}
 		mut comments := []ast.Comment{}
diff --git a/vlib/v/transformer/transformer.v b/vlib/v/transformer/transformer.v
index 04030c328e..ccd576f0ff 100644
--- a/vlib/v/transformer/transformer.v
+++ b/vlib/v/transformer/transformer.v
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ pub fn (mut t Transformer) expr_stmt_if_expr(mut node ast.IfExpr) ast.Expr {
 	/*
 	FIXME: optimization causes cgen error `g.expr(): unhandled EmptyExpr`
 	if original.branches.len == 0 { // no remain branches to walk through
-		return ast.EmptyExpr{}
+		return ast.empty_expr
 	}*/
 	if node.branches.len == 1 && node.branches[0].cond.type_name() == 'unknown v.ast.Expr' {
 		node.branches[0].cond = ast.BoolLiteral{
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ pub fn (mut t Transformer) for_stmt(mut node ast.ForStmt) ast.Stmt {
 	match node.cond {
 		ast.BoolLiteral {
 			if !(node.cond as ast.BoolLiteral).val { // for false { ... } should be eleminated
-				return ast.EmptyStmt{}
+				return ast.empty_stmt
 			}
 		}
 		else {