diff --git a/src/cmd/5g/cgen.c b/src/cmd/5g/cgen.c
index 0616cd36688..b0a60400338 100644
--- a/src/cmd/5g/cgen.c
+++ b/src/cmd/5g/cgen.c
@@ -1066,7 +1066,7 @@ bgen(Node *n, int true, Prog *to)
 		}
 
 		if(nr->op == OLITERAL) {
-			if(nr->val.ctype == CTINT &&  mpgetfix(nr->val.u.xval) == 0) {
+			if(isconst(nr, CTINT) &&  mpgetfix(nr->val.u.xval) == 0) {
 				gencmp0(nl, nl->type, a, to);
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/src/cmd/5g/gsubr.c b/src/cmd/5g/gsubr.c
index f287214533f..73ae3304ad8 100644
--- a/src/cmd/5g/gsubr.c
+++ b/src/cmd/5g/gsubr.c
@@ -1320,6 +1320,7 @@ naddr(Node *n, Addr *a, int canemitcode)
 			a->dval = mpgetflt(n->val.u.fval);
 			break;
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			a->sym = S;
 			a->type = D_CONST;
 			a->offset = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
@@ -1777,7 +1778,7 @@ sudoaddable(int as, Node *n, Addr *a, int *w)
 
 	switch(n->op) {
 	case OLITERAL:
-		if(n->val.ctype != CTINT)
+		if(!isconst(n, CTINT))
 			break;
 		v = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
 		if(v >= 32000 || v <= -32000)
diff --git a/src/cmd/6g/gsubr.c b/src/cmd/6g/gsubr.c
index c16a3645a8e..c43d2ef82fe 100644
--- a/src/cmd/6g/gsubr.c
+++ b/src/cmd/6g/gsubr.c
@@ -1175,6 +1175,7 @@ naddr(Node *n, Addr *a, int canemitcode)
 			a->dval = mpgetflt(n->val.u.fval);
 			break;
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			a->sym = S;
 			a->type = D_CONST;
 			a->offset = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
@@ -1878,7 +1879,7 @@ sudoaddable(int as, Node *n, Addr *a)
 
 	switch(n->op) {
 	case OLITERAL:
-		if(n->val.ctype != CTINT)
+		if(!isconst(n, CTINT))
 			break;
 		v = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
 		if(v >= 32000 || v <= -32000)
diff --git a/src/cmd/8g/gsubr.c b/src/cmd/8g/gsubr.c
index c7c39b4183a..dd6ffbc4c69 100644
--- a/src/cmd/8g/gsubr.c
+++ b/src/cmd/8g/gsubr.c
@@ -1885,6 +1885,7 @@ naddr(Node *n, Addr *a, int canemitcode)
 			a->dval = mpgetflt(n->val.u.fval);
 			break;
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			a->sym = S;
 			a->type = D_CONST;
 			a->offset = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/const.c b/src/cmd/gc/const.c
index dd4c4433be6..01c4f15b3f3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/const.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/const.c
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ convlit1(Node **np, Type *t, int explicit)
 		break;
 
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 	case CTFLT:
 	case CTCPLX:
 		ct = n->val.ctype;
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ convlit1(Node **np, Type *t, int explicit)
 				goto bad;
 			case CTCPLX:
 			case CTFLT:
+			case CTRUNE:
 				n->val = toint(n->val);
 				// flowthrough
 			case CTINT:
@@ -192,6 +194,7 @@ convlit1(Node **np, Type *t, int explicit)
 				goto bad;
 			case CTCPLX:
 			case CTINT:
+			case CTRUNE:
 				n->val = toflt(n->val);
 				// flowthrough
 			case CTFLT:
@@ -206,6 +209,7 @@ convlit1(Node **np, Type *t, int explicit)
 				goto bad;
 			case CTFLT:
 			case CTINT:
+			case CTRUNE:
 				n->val = tocplx(n->val);
 				break;
 			case CTCPLX:
@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@ convlit1(Node **np, Type *t, int explicit)
 				break;
 			}
 		} else
-		if(et == TSTRING && ct == CTINT && explicit)
+		if(et == TSTRING && (ct == CTINT || ct == CTRUNE) && explicit)
 			n->val = tostr(n->val);
 		else
 			goto bad;
@@ -243,6 +247,7 @@ copyval(Val v)
 
 	switch(v.ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		i = mal(sizeof(*i));
 		mpmovefixfix(i, v.u.xval);
 		v.u.xval = i;
@@ -269,6 +274,7 @@ tocplx(Val v)
 
 	switch(v.ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		c = mal(sizeof(*c));
 		mpmovefixflt(&c->real, v.u.xval);
 		mpmovecflt(&c->imag, 0.0);
@@ -293,6 +299,7 @@ toflt(Val v)
 
 	switch(v.ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		f = mal(sizeof(*f));
 		mpmovefixflt(f, v.u.xval);
 		v.ctype = CTFLT;
@@ -316,6 +323,9 @@ toint(Val v)
 	Mpint *i;
 
 	switch(v.ctype) {
+	case CTRUNE:
+		v.ctype = CTINT;
+		break;
 	case CTFLT:
 		i = mal(sizeof(*i));
 		if(mpmovefltfix(i, v.u.fval) < 0)
@@ -345,6 +355,7 @@ overflow(Val v, Type *t)
 		return;
 	switch(v.ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		if(!isint[t->etype])
 			fatal("overflow: %T integer constant", t);
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, minintval[t->etype]) < 0 ||
@@ -379,6 +390,7 @@ tostr(Val v)
 
 	switch(v.ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, minintval[TINT]) < 0 ||
 		   mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, maxintval[TINT]) > 0)
 			yyerror("overflow in int -> string");
@@ -415,7 +427,12 @@ consttype(Node *n)
 int
 isconst(Node *n, int ct)
 {
-	return consttype(n) == ct;
+	int t;
+	
+	t = consttype(n);
+	// If the caller is asking for CTINT, allow CTRUNE too.
+	// Makes life easier for back ends.
+	return t == ct || (ct == CTINT && t == CTRUNE);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -518,7 +535,8 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		n->right = nr;
 		if(nr->type && (issigned[nr->type->etype] || !isint[nr->type->etype]))
 			goto illegal;
-		nl->val = toint(nl->val);
+		if(nl->val.ctype != CTRUNE)
+			nl->val = toint(nl->val);
 		nr->val = toint(nr->val);
 		break;
 	}
@@ -540,6 +558,17 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		v = toflt(v);
 		rv = toflt(rv);
 	}
+
+	// Rune and int turns into rune.
+	if(v.ctype == CTRUNE && rv.ctype == CTINT)
+		rv.ctype = CTRUNE;
+	if(v.ctype == CTINT && rv.ctype == CTRUNE) {
+		if(n->op == OLSH || n->op == ORSH)
+			rv.ctype = CTINT;
+		else
+			v.ctype = CTRUNE;
+	}
+
 	if(v.ctype != rv.ctype) {
 		// Use of undefined name as constant?
 		if((v.ctype == 0 || rv.ctype == 0) && nerrors > 0)
@@ -559,15 +588,19 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		return;
 
 	case TUP(OADD, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OADD, CTRUNE):
 		mpaddfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OSUB, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OSUB, CTRUNE):
 		mpsubfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OMUL, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OMUL, CTRUNE):
 		mpmulfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(ODIV, CTINT):
+	case TUP(ODIV, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixc(rv.u.xval, 0) == 0) {
 			yyerror("division by zero");
 			mpmovecfix(v.u.xval, 1);
@@ -576,6 +609,7 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		mpdivfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OMOD, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OMOD, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixc(rv.u.xval, 0) == 0) {
 			yyerror("division by zero");
 			mpmovecfix(v.u.xval, 1);
@@ -585,21 +619,27 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		break;
 
 	case TUP(OLSH, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OLSH, CTRUNE):
 		mplshfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(ORSH, CTINT):
+	case TUP(ORSH, CTRUNE):
 		mprshfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OOR, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OOR, CTRUNE):
 		mporfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OAND, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OAND, CTRUNE):
 		mpandfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OANDNOT, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OANDNOT, CTRUNE):
 		mpandnotfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OXOR, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OXOR, CTRUNE):
 		mpxorfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval);
 		break;
 
@@ -649,26 +689,32 @@ evconst(Node *n)
 		goto setfalse;
 
 	case TUP(OEQ, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OEQ, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) == 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
 	case TUP(ONE, CTINT):
+	case TUP(ONE, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) != 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
 	case TUP(OLT, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OLT, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) < 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
 	case TUP(OLE, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OLE, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) <= 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
 	case TUP(OGE, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OGE, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) >= 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
 	case TUP(OGT, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OGT, CTRUNE):
 		if(mpcmpfixfix(v.u.xval, rv.u.xval) > 0)
 			goto settrue;
 		goto setfalse;
@@ -786,17 +832,21 @@ unary:
 		}
 		// fall through
 	case TUP(OCONV, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OCONV, CTRUNE):
 	case TUP(OCONV, CTFLT):
 	case TUP(OCONV, CTSTR):
 		convlit1(&nl, n->type, 1);
 		break;
 
 	case TUP(OPLUS, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OPLUS, CTRUNE):
 		break;
 	case TUP(OMINUS, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OMINUS, CTRUNE):
 		mpnegfix(v.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case TUP(OCOM, CTINT):
+	case TUP(OCOM, CTRUNE):
 		et = Txxx;
 		if(nl->type != T)
 			et = nl->type->etype;
@@ -889,6 +939,7 @@ nodlit(Val v)
 		n->type = idealbool;
 		break;
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 	case CTFLT:
 	case CTCPLX:
 		n->type = types[TIDEAL];
@@ -1008,6 +1059,9 @@ defaultlit(Node **np, Type *t)
 	case CTINT:
 		n->type = types[TINT];
 		goto num;
+	case CTRUNE:
+		n->type = runetype;
+		goto num;
 	case CTFLT:
 		n->type = types[TFLOAT64];
 		goto num;
@@ -1072,6 +1126,13 @@ defaultlit2(Node **lp, Node **rp, int force)
 		convlit(rp, types[TFLOAT64]);
 		return;
 	}
+
+	if(isconst(l, CTRUNE) || isconst(r, CTRUNE)) {
+		convlit(lp, runetype);
+		convlit(rp, runetype);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	convlit(lp, types[TINT]);
 	convlit(rp, types[TINT]);
 }
@@ -1108,7 +1169,7 @@ cmpslit(Node *l, Node *r)
 int
 smallintconst(Node *n)
 {
-	if(n->op == OLITERAL && n->val.ctype == CTINT && n->type != T)
+	if(n->op == OLITERAL && isconst(n, CTINT) && n->type != T)
 	switch(simtype[n->type->etype]) {
 	case TINT8:
 	case TUINT8:
@@ -1210,6 +1271,7 @@ convconst(Node *con, Type *t, Val *val)
 		default:
 			fatal("convconst ctype=%d %lT", val->ctype, t);
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			i = mpgetfix(val->u.xval);
 			break;
 		case CTBOOL:
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c b/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
index 86711869d86..35acb5b84bc 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
@@ -354,12 +354,22 @@ static int
 Vconv(Fmt *fp)
 {
 	Val *v;
+	vlong x;
 
 	v = va_arg(fp->args, Val*);
 
 	switch(v->ctype) {
 	case CTINT:
 		return fmtprint(fp, "%B", v->u.xval);
+	case CTRUNE:
+		x = mpgetfix(v->u.xval);
+		if(' ' <= x && x < 0x80)
+			return fmtprint(fp, "'%c'", (int)x);
+		if(0 <= x && x < (1<<16))
+			return fmtprint(fp, "'\\u%04ux'", (int)x);
+		if(0 <= x && x <= Runemax)
+			return fmtprint(fp, "'\\U%08llux'", x);
+		return fmtprint(fp, "('\\x00' + %B)", v->u.xval);
 	case CTFLT:
 		return fmtprint(fp, "%F", v->u.fval);
 	case CTCPLX:  // ? 1234i ->  (0p+0+617p+1)
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/go.h b/src/cmd/gc/go.h
index 82d5039f0ca..b8c40fcb9d2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/go.h
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/go.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ struct	Val
 	{
 		short	reg;		// OREGISTER
 		short	bval;		// bool value CTBOOL
-		Mpint*	xval;		// int CTINT
+		Mpint*	xval;		// int CTINT, rune CTRUNE
 		Mpflt*	fval;		// float CTFLT
 		Mpcplx*	cval;		// float CTCPLX
 		Strlit*	sval;		// string CTSTR
@@ -527,6 +527,7 @@ enum
 	CTxxx,
 
 	CTINT,
+	CTRUNE,
 	CTFLT,
 	CTCPLX,
 	CTSTR,
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/go.y b/src/cmd/gc/go.y
index 075117102bf..f71658920ad 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/go.y
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/go.y
@@ -1974,6 +1974,7 @@ hidden_literal:
 		$$ = nodlit($2);
 		switch($$->val.ctype){
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			mpnegfix($$->val.u.xval);
 			break;
 		case CTFLT:
@@ -1994,6 +1995,11 @@ hidden_constant:
 	hidden_literal
 |	'(' hidden_literal '+' hidden_literal ')'
 	{
+		if($2->val.ctype == CTRUNE && $4->val.ctype == CTINT) {
+			$$ = $2;
+			mpaddfixfix($2->val.u.xval, $4->val.u.xval);
+			break;
+		}
 		$$ = nodcplxlit($2->val, $4->val);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/lex.c b/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
index 3dbd6dda1a2..1963bfbdafd 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ l0:
 		}
 		yylval.val.u.xval = mal(sizeof(*yylval.val.u.xval));
 		mpmovecfix(yylval.val.u.xval, v);
-		yylval.val.ctype = CTINT;
+		yylval.val.ctype = CTRUNE;
 		DBG("lex: codepoint literal\n");
 		strcpy(litbuf, "string literal");
 		return LLITERAL;
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/sinit.c b/src/cmd/gc/sinit.c
index 8d199e0240c..3ef914a60e7 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/sinit.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/sinit.c
@@ -1341,6 +1341,7 @@ iszero(Node *n)
 			return n->val.u.bval == 0;
 			
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			return mpcmpfixc(n->val.u.xval, 0) == 0;
 	
 		case CTFLT:
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/subr.c b/src/cmd/gc/subr.c
index 5584f78e2f9..71e67f14496 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/subr.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/subr.c
@@ -709,6 +709,7 @@ aindex(Node *b, Type *t)
 			yyerror("array bound must be an integer expression");
 			break;
 		case CTINT:
+		case CTRUNE:
 			bound = mpgetfix(b->val.u.xval);
 			if(bound < 0)
 				yyerror("array bound must be non negative");
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/swt.c b/src/cmd/gc/swt.c
index fb191298120..786fdf938d9 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/swt.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/swt.c
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ exprcmp(Case *c1, Case *c2)
 		n = mpcmpfltflt(n1->val.u.fval, n2->val.u.fval);
 		break;
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		n = mpcmpfixfix(n1->val.u.xval, n2->val.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case CTSTR:
@@ -380,6 +381,7 @@ mkcaselist(Node *sw, int arg)
 			switch(consttype(n->left)) {
 			case CTFLT:
 			case CTINT:
+			case CTRUNE:
 			case CTSTR:
 				c->type = Texprconst;
 			}
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
index 90db76960da..edf32fe2fa3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ reswitch:
 			l = typecheck(&n->left, Erv);
 			switch(consttype(l)) {
 			case CTINT:
+			case CTRUNE:
 				v = l->val;
 				break;
 			case CTFLT:
@@ -1849,6 +1850,7 @@ keydup(Node *n, Node *hash[], ulong nhash)
 		b = 23;
 		break;
 	case CTINT:
+	case CTRUNE:
 		b = mpgetfix(n->val.u.xval);
 		break;
 	case CTFLT:
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/walk.c b/src/cmd/gc/walk.c
index 075a801a303..93bcd423f47 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/walk.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/walk.c
@@ -1538,6 +1538,9 @@ walkprint(Node *nn, NodeList **init, int defer)
 		n = l->n;
 		if(n->op == OLITERAL) {
 			switch(n->val.ctype) {
+			case CTRUNE:
+				defaultlit(&n, runetype);
+				break;
 			case CTINT:
 				defaultlit(&n, types[TINT64]);
 				break;
diff --git a/test/rune.go b/test/rune.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b2c73775d41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rune.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// $G $D/$F.go
+
+// Copyright 2011 The Go Authors.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+var (
+	r0 = 'a'
+	r1 = 'a'+1
+	r2 = 1+'a'
+	r3 = 'a'*2
+	r4 = 'a'/2
+	r5 = 'a'<<1
+	r6 = 'b'<<2
+
+	r = []rune{r0, r1, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6}
+)
+
+var (
+	f0 = 1.2
+	f1 = 1.2/'a'
+
+	f = []float64{f0, f1}
+)
+
+var (
+	i0 = 1
+	i1 = 1<<'\x01'
+	
+	i = []int{i0, i1}
+)
+
+const (
+	maxRune = '\U0010FFFF'
+)
+
+var (
+	b0 = maxRune < r0
+	
+	b = []bool{b0}
+)