diff --git a/decl.cpp b/decl.cpp
index f5c0eb88..ada96eca 100644
--- a/decl.cpp
+++ b/decl.cpp
@@ -408,7 +408,11 @@ Declarator::GetType(const Type *base, DeclSpecs *ds) const {
                     return NULL;
                 }
 
-                sym->type = PointerType::GetUniform(at->GetElementType());
+                const Type *targetType = at->GetElementType();
+                targetType = 
+                    targetType->ResolveUnboundVariability(Type::Varying);
+                sym->type = PointerType::GetUniform(targetType);
+
                 // Make sure there are no unsized arrays (other than the
                 // first dimension) in function parameter lists.
                 at = dynamic_cast<const ArrayType *>(at->GetElementType());
diff --git a/docs/ispc.rst b/docs/ispc.rst
index aa15158d..c131497c 100644
--- a/docs/ispc.rst
+++ b/docs/ispc.rst
@@ -1499,38 +1499,46 @@ Pointer Types
 
 It is possible to have pointers to data in memory; pointer arithmetic,
 changing values in memory with pointers, and so forth is supported as in C.
-
-::
-
-    float a = 0;
-    float *pa = &a;
-    *pa = 1;  // now a == 1
-
-Also as in C, arrays are silently converted into pointers:
-
-::
-
-    float a[10] = { ... };
-    float *pa = a;     // pointer to first element of a
-    float *pb = a + 5; // pointer to 5th element of a
-
 As with other basic types, pointers can be both ``uniform`` and
-``varying``.  By default, they are varying.  The placement of the
-``uniform`` qualifier to declare a ``uniform`` pointer may be initially
-surprising, but it matches the form of how for example a pointer that is
-itself ``const`` (as opposed to pointing to a ``const`` type) is declared
-in C.
+``varying``.  
+
+** Like other types in ``ispc``, pointers are ``varying`` by default, if an
+explicit ``uniform`` qualifier isn't provided.  However, the default
+variability of the pointed-to type (``uniform`` or ``varying``) is the
+opposite of the pointer variability. ** This rule will be illustrated and
+explained in examples below.
+
+For example, the ``ptr`` variable in the code below is a varying pointer to
+``uniform float`` values.  Each program instance has a separate pointer
+value and the assignment to ``*ptr`` generally represents a scatter to
+memory.
 
 ::
 
-    uniform float f = 0;
-    uniform float * uniform pf = &f;
+    uniform float a[] = ...;
+    int index = ...;
+    float * ptr = &a[index];
+    *ptr = 1;
+
+A ``uniform`` pointer can be declared with an appropriately-placed
+qualifier:
+
+::
+
+    float f = 0;
+    float * uniform pf = &f;  // uniform pointer to a varying float
     *pf = 1;
 
-A subtlety comes in when a uniform pointer points to a varying datatype.
-In this case, each program instance accesses a distinct location in memory
-(because the underlying varying datatype is itself laid out with a separate
-location in memory for each program instance.)
+The placement of the ``uniform`` qualifier to declare a ``uniform`` pointer
+may be initially surprising, but it matches the form of how, for example, a
+pointer that is itself ``const`` (as opposed to pointing to a ``const``
+type) is declared in C.  (Reading the declaration from right to left gives
+its meaning: a uniform pointer to a float that is varying.)
+
+A subtlety comes in in cases like the where a uniform pointer points to a
+varying datatype.  In this case, each program instance accesses a distinct
+location in memory (because the underlying varying datatype is itself laid
+out with a separate location in memory for each program instance.)
 
 ::
 
@@ -1538,17 +1546,26 @@ location in memory for each program instance.)
     float * uniform pa = &a;
     *pa = programIndex;  // same as (a = programIndex)
     
+Also as in C, arrays are silently converted into pointers:
+
+::
+
+    float a[10] = { ... };
+    float * uniform pa = a;     // pointer to first element of a
+    float * uniform pb = a + 5; // pointer to 5th element of a
 
 Any pointer type can be explicitly typecast to another pointer type, as
 long as the source type isn't a ``varying`` pointer when the destination
-type is a ``uniform`` pointer.  Like other types, ``uniform`` pointers can
-be typecast to be ``varying`` pointers, however.
+type is a ``uniform`` pointer.
 
 ::
 
     float *pa = ...;
     int *pb = (int *)pa;  // legal, but beware
 
+Like other types, ``uniform`` pointers can be typecast to be ``varying``
+pointers, however.
+
 Any pointer type can be assigned to a ``void`` pointer without a type cast:
 
 ::
@@ -1992,7 +2009,7 @@ based on C++'s ``new`` and ``delete`` operators:
 ::
 
    int count = ...;
-   int *ptr = new uniform int[count];
+   int *ptr = new int[count];
    // use ptr...
    delete[] ptr;
 
@@ -2002,13 +2019,22 @@ that memory.  Uses of ``new`` and ``delete`` in ``ispc`` programs are
 serviced by corresponding calls the system C library's ``malloc()`` and
 ``free()`` functions.
 
+Note that the rules for ``uniform`` and ``varying`` for ``new`` are
+analogous to the corresponding rules are for pointers (as described in
+`Pointer Types`_.)  Specifically, if a specific rate qualifier isn't
+provided with the ``new`` expression, then the default is that a "varying"
+``new`` is performed, where each program instance performs a unique
+allocation.  The allocated type, in turn, is by default ``uniform`` for
+``varying`` ``new`` expressions, and ``varying`` for ``uniform`` new
+expressions.
+ 
 After a pointer has been deleted, it is illegal to access the memory it
-points to.  However, note that deletion happens on a per-program-instance
-basis.  In other words, consider the following code:
+points to.  However, that deletion happens on a per-program-instance basis.
+In other words, consider the following code:
 
 ::
 
-    int *ptr = new uniform int[count];
+    int *ptr = new int[count];
     // use ptr
     if (count > 1000)
         delete[] ptr;
@@ -2033,7 +2059,9 @@ gang of program instances.  A ``new`` statement can be qualified with
 While a regular call to ``new`` returns a ``varying`` pointer (i.e. a
 distinct pointer to separately-allocated memory for each program instance),
 a ``uniform new`` performs a single allocation and returns a ``uniform``
-pointer.
+pointer.  Recall that with a ``uniform`` ``new``, the default variability
+of the allocated type is ``varying``, so the above code is allocating an
+array of ten ``varying float`` values.
 
 When using ``uniform new``, it's important to be aware of a subtlety; if
 the returned pointer is stored in a varying pointer variable (as may be
@@ -2043,7 +2071,7 @@ statement, which is an error: effectively
 
 ::
 
-    float *ptr = uniform new float[10];
+    varying float * ptr = uniform new float[10];
     // use ptr...
     delete ptr;  // ERROR: varying pointer is deleted
 
@@ -2052,28 +2080,31 @@ executing program instance, which is an error (unless it happens that only
 a single program instance is active in the above code.)
 
 When using ``new`` statements, it's important to make an appropriate choice
-of ``uniform`` or ``varying`` (as always, the default), for both the
-``new`` operator itself as well as the type of data being allocated, based
-on the program's needs.  Consider the following four memory allocations:
+of ``uniform`` or ``varying``, for both the ``new`` operator itself as well
+as the type of data being allocated, based on the program's needs.
+Consider the following four memory allocations:
 
 ::
 
     uniform float * uniform p1 = uniform new uniform float[10];
     float * uniform p2 = uniform new float[10];
-    uniform float * p3 = new uniform float[10];
-    float * p4 = new float[10];
+    float * p3 = new float[10];
+    varying float * p4 = new varying float[10];
 
 Assuming that a ``float`` is 4 bytes in memory and if the gang size is 8
 program instances, then the first allocation represents a single allocation
-of 40 bytes, the second is a single allocation of 8*4*10 = 320 bytes, the
-third is 8 allocations of 40 bytes, and the last performs 8 allocations of
-80 bytes each.
+of 10 ``uniform float`` values (40 bytes), the second is a single
+allocation of 10 ``varying float`` values (8*4*10 = 320 bytes), the third
+is 8 allocations of 10 ``uniform float`` values (8 allocations of 40 bytes
+each), and the last performs 8 allocations of 320 bytes each.
 
 Note in particular that varying allocations of varying data types are rarely
 desirable in practice.  In that case, each program instance is performing a
 separate allocation of ``varying float`` memory.  In this case, it's likely
 that the program instances will only access a single element of each
-``varying float``, which is wasteful.
+``varying float``, which is wasteful.  (This in turn is partially why the
+allocated type is uniform by default with both pointers and ``new``
+statements.)
 
 Although ``ispc`` doesn't support constructors or destructors like C++, it
 is possible to provide initializer values with ``new`` statements:
diff --git a/expr.cpp b/expr.cpp
index e7432fb4..be69fd9b 100644
--- a/expr.cpp
+++ b/expr.cpp
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ lDoTypeConv(const Type *fromType, const Type *toType, Expr **expr,
 
     if (toType->IsUniformType() && fromType->IsVaryingType()) {
         if (!failureOk)
-            Error(pos, "Can't convert from varying type \"%s\" to uniform "
-                  "type \"%s\" for %s.", fromType->GetString().c_str(), 
-                  toType->GetString().c_str(), errorMsgBase);
+            Error(pos, "Can't convert from type \"%s\" to type \"%s\" for %s.",
+                  fromType->GetString().c_str(), toType->GetString().c_str(), 
+                  errorMsgBase);
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -5238,7 +5238,10 @@ ConstExpr::GetConstant(const Type *type) const {
         int64_t iv[ISPC_MAX_NVEC];
         AsInt64(iv, type->IsVaryingType());
         for (int i = 0; i < Count(); ++i)
-            Assert(iv[i] == 0);
+            if (iv[i] != 0)
+                // We'll issue an error about this later--trying to assign
+                // a constant int to a pointer, without a typecast.
+                return NULL;
 
         return llvm::Constant::getNullValue(llvmType);
     }
@@ -6152,9 +6155,8 @@ TypeCastExpr::TypeCheck() {
     toType = lDeconstifyType(toType);
 
     if (fromType->IsVaryingType() && toType->IsUniformType()) {
-        Error(pos, "Can't type cast from varying type \"%s\" to uniform "
-              "type \"%s\"", fromType->GetString().c_str(),
-              toType->GetString().c_str());
+        Error(pos, "Can't type cast from type \"%s\" to type \"%s\"",
+              fromType->GetString().c_str(), toType->GetString().c_str());
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -7310,8 +7312,6 @@ NewExpr::NewExpr(int typeQual, const Type *t, Expr *init, Expr *count,
                  SourcePos tqPos, SourcePos p)
     : Expr(p) {
     allocType = t;
-    if (allocType != NULL && allocType->HasUnboundVariability())
-        allocType = allocType->ResolveUnboundVariability(Type::Varying);
 
     initExpr = init;
     countExpr = count;
@@ -7333,6 +7333,18 @@ NewExpr::NewExpr(int typeQual, const Type *t, Expr *init, Expr *count,
         // If no type qualifier is given before the 'new', treat it as a
         // varying new.
         isVarying = (typeQual == 0) || (typeQual & TYPEQUAL_VARYING);
+
+    if (allocType != NULL && allocType->HasUnboundVariability()) {
+        Type::Variability childVariability = isVarying ?
+            Type::Uniform : Type::Varying;
+        if (dynamic_cast<const StructType *>(allocType) != NULL)
+            // FIXME: yet another place where the "structs are varying"
+            // wart pops up..
+            childVariability = Type::Varying;
+
+        allocType = allocType->ResolveUnboundVariability(childVariability);
+    }
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/stdlib.ispc b/stdlib.ispc
index e8af3790..82993e32 100644
--- a/stdlib.ispc
+++ b/stdlib.ispc
@@ -484,7 +484,8 @@ static inline void
 aos_to_soa4(uniform int32 a[], int32 * uniform v0, int32 * uniform v1, 
             int32 * uniform v2, int32 * uniform v3) {
     aos_to_soa4((uniform float * uniform)a, (float * uniform )v0, 
-                (float * uniform)v1, (float * uniform)v2, (float * uniform)v3);
+                (float * uniform)v1, (float * uniform)v2, 
+                (float * uniform)v3);
 }
 
 static inline void
@@ -763,24 +764,24 @@ static unsigned int64 exclusive_scan_or(unsigned int64 v) {
 // packed load, store
 
 static inline uniform int 
-packed_load_active(uniform unsigned int * uniform a,
+packed_load_active(uniform unsigned int a[],
                    unsigned int * uniform vals) {
     return __packed_load_active(a, vals, (UIntMaskType)__mask);
 }
 
 static inline uniform int
-packed_store_active(uniform unsigned int * uniform a,
+packed_store_active(uniform unsigned int a[],
                     unsigned int vals) {
     return __packed_store_active(a, vals, (UIntMaskType)__mask);
 }
 
 static inline uniform int 
-packed_load_active(uniform int * uniform a, int * uniform vals) {
+packed_load_active(uniform int a[], int * uniform vals) {
     return __packed_load_active(a, vals, (IntMaskType)__mask);
 }
 
 static inline uniform int 
-packed_store_active(uniform int * uniform a, int vals) {
+packed_store_active(uniform int a[], int vals) {
     return __packed_store_active(a, vals, (IntMaskType)__mask);
 }
 
@@ -1630,7 +1631,7 @@ static inline uniform float ldexp(uniform float x, uniform int n) {
     return floatbits(ix);
 }
 
-static inline float frexp(float x, int * uniform pw2) {
+static inline float frexp(float x, varying int * uniform pw2) {
     unsigned int ex = 0x7F800000u;              // exponent mask
     unsigned int ix = intbits(x);
     ex &= ix;
@@ -1909,8 +1910,8 @@ static inline uniform float cos(uniform float x_full) {
 }
 
 
-static inline void sincos(float x_full, float * uniform sin_result, 
-                          float * uniform cos_result) {
+static inline void sincos(float x_full, varying float * uniform sin_result, 
+                          varying float * uniform cos_result) {
     if (__math_lib == __math_lib_svml) {
         __svml_sincos(x_full, sin_result, cos_result);
     }
@@ -2507,8 +2508,8 @@ static inline uniform float exp(uniform float x_full) {
 // Range reduction for logarithms takes log(x) -> log(2^n * y) -> n
 // * log(2) + log(y) where y is the reduced range (usually in [1/2,
 // 1)).
-static inline void __range_reduce_log(float input, float * uniform reduced, 
-                                      int * uniform exponent) {
+static inline void __range_reduce_log(float input, varying float * uniform reduced, 
+                                      varying int * uniform exponent) {
     int int_version = intbits(input);
     // single precision = SEEE EEEE EMMM MMMM MMMM MMMM MMMM MMMM
     // exponent mask    = 0111 1111 1000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
@@ -2785,7 +2786,7 @@ static inline uniform double ldexp(uniform double x, uniform int n) {
     return doublebits(ix);
 }
 
-static inline double frexp(double x, int * uniform pw2) {
+static inline double frexp(double x, varying int * uniform pw2) {
     unsigned int64 ex = 0x7ff0000000000000;              // exponent mask
     unsigned int64 ix = intbits(x);
     ex &= ix;
@@ -2851,8 +2852,8 @@ static inline uniform double cos(uniform double x) {
         return __stdlib_cos(x);
 }
 
-static inline void sincos(double x, double * uniform sin_result,
-                          double * uniform cos_result) {
+static inline void sincos(double x, varying double * uniform sin_result,
+                          varying double * uniform cos_result) {
     if (__math_lib == __math_lib_ispc_fast) {
         float sr, cr;
         sincos((float)x, &sr, &cr);
@@ -3391,7 +3392,7 @@ struct RNGState {
     unsigned int z1, z2, z3, z4;
 };
 
-static inline unsigned int random(RNGState * uniform state)
+static inline unsigned int random(varying RNGState * uniform state)
 {
     unsigned int b;
 
@@ -3406,14 +3407,14 @@ static inline unsigned int random(RNGState * uniform state)
     return (state->z1 ^ state->z2 ^ state->z3 ^ state->z4);
 }
 
-static inline float frandom(RNGState * uniform state)
+static inline float frandom(varying RNGState * uniform state)
 {
     unsigned int irand = random(state);
     irand &= (1<<23)-1;
     return floatbits(0x3F800000 | irand)-1.0f;
 }
 
-static inline uniform unsigned int __seed4(RNGState * uniform state, 
+static inline uniform unsigned int __seed4(varying RNGState * uniform state, 
                                            uniform int start,
                                            uniform unsigned int seed) {
     uniform unsigned int c1 = 0xf0f0f0f0;
@@ -3447,7 +3448,7 @@ static inline uniform unsigned int __seed4(RNGState * uniform state,
     return seed;
 }
 
-static inline void seed_rng(uniform RNGState * uniform state, uniform unsigned int seed) {
+static inline void seed_rng(varying RNGState * uniform state, uniform unsigned int seed) {
     if (programCount == 1) {
         state->z1 = seed;
         state->z2 = seed ^ 0xbeeff00d;
diff --git a/tests/cfor-ref-5.ispc b/tests/cfor-ref-5.ispc
index 39e0f817..ef6ebb6e 100644
--- a/tests/cfor-ref-5.ispc
+++ b/tests/cfor-ref-5.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform a) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/new-delete-3.ispc b/tests/new-delete-3.ispc
index 676f9886..d37fe1b3 100644
--- a/tests/new-delete-3.ispc
+++ b/tests/new-delete-3.ispc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_fu(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[], uniform float b) {
     float a = aFOO[programIndex]; 
-    float * uniform buf = uniform new float[programCount+1];
+    varying float * uniform buf = uniform new varying float[programCount+1];
     for (uniform int i = 0; i < programCount+1; ++i) {
         buf[i] = i+a;
     }
diff --git a/tests/new-delete-6.ispc b/tests/new-delete-6.ispc
index 90018b93..bad82aee 100644
--- a/tests/new-delete-6.ispc
+++ b/tests/new-delete-6.ispc
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ struct Point {
 
 export void f_fu(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[], uniform float b) {
     float a = aFOO[programIndex]; 
-    Point * varying buf = new Point(0., b, a);
+    uniform Point * buf = new Point(0., b, a);
     RET[programIndex] = buf->z;
     delete buf;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-14.ispc b/tests/ptr-14.ispc
index f1331123..746dd539 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-14.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-14.ispc
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     float a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    float * uniform pa = &a;
-    int * uniform pb = (int *)pa;
-    float *uniform pc = (float *)pb;
+    varying float * uniform pa = &a;
+    varying int * uniform pb = (varying int *)pa;
+    varying float *uniform pc = (varying float *)pb;
     *pc = programIndex;
     RET[programIndex] = *pc;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-2.ispc b/tests/ptr-2.ispc
index 8fc7c3b1..85db5547 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-2.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-2.ispc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     RET[programIndex] = *b;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-22.ispc b/tests/ptr-22.ispc
index b3e203a6..0f00abec 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-22.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-22.ispc
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@ struct Foo {
     uniform float b;
 };
 
-void update(Foo * varying fp) {
+void update(uniform Foo * varying fp) {
     ++fp;
     fp->a -= 1;
     fp->b = 1;
 }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
-    Foo f[2] = { { 1234, 4321 }, { aFOO[programIndex], 5 } };
+    uniform Foo f[2] = { { 1234, 4321 }, { aFOO[programIndex], 5 } };
     update(f);
     RET[programIndex] = f[1].a;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-23.ispc b/tests/ptr-23.ispc
index a967de47..9e55ecf2 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-23.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-23.ispc
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ struct Foo {
     uniform float b;
 };
 
-void update(float<3> * uniform vp) {
+void update(varying float<3> * uniform vp) {
     vp->x = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-25.ispc b/tests/ptr-25.ispc
index e471435e..19c8d00d 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-25.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-25.ispc
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
-void update(float<2> * varying vp) {
+void update(varying float<2> * vp) {
     vp->y = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-3.ispc b/tests/ptr-3.ispc
index b84abeb1..3adc57a8 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-3.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-3.ispc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     *b = 2;
     RET[programIndex] = *b;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-4.ispc b/tests/ptr-4.ispc
index 65038dbe..dea857ee 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-4.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-4.ispc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     ++*b;
     RET[programIndex] = *b;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-5.ispc b/tests/ptr-5.ispc
index a0cd0fdc..25f9b76b 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-5.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-5.ispc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     (*b)++;
     RET[programIndex] = *b;
 }
diff --git a/tests/ptr-8.ispc b/tests/ptr-8.ispc
index 4444212d..230564c1 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-8.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-8.ispc
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 
 export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
-void inc(int * uniform v) {
+void inc(varying int * uniform v) {
     ++*v;
 }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     if (a <= 2)
         inc(b);
     RET[programIndex] = a;
diff --git a/tests/ptr-9.ispc b/tests/ptr-9.ispc
index ba44bf34..c489ca5b 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-9.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-9.ispc
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 
 export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
-void inc(int * uniform v) {
+void inc(varying int * uniform v) {
     ++*v;
 }
 
 export void f_f(uniform float RET[], uniform float aFOO[]) {
     int a = aFOO[programIndex];
-    int * uniform b = &a;
+    varying int * uniform b = &a;
     void * uniform vp = b;
-    int * uniform c = (int * uniform)vp;
+    varying int * uniform c = (varying int * uniform)vp;
     RET[programIndex] = *c;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r--0.ispc b/tests/ptr-r--0.ispc
index 2977c6cf..d6fe8f29 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r--0.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r--0.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-float foo(float * uniform a) {
+float foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r--2.ispc b/tests/ptr-r--2.ispc
index 10d6c2cd..4bd772ee 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r--2.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r--2.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-float foo(float * uniform a) {
+float foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r--3.ispc b/tests/ptr-r--3.ispc
index fe9bb0fe..a62123f2 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r--3.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r--3.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform a) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r--4.ispc b/tests/ptr-r--4.ispc
index 88593dcf..0c4a4806 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r--4.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r--4.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform a) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r--5.ispc b/tests/ptr-r--5.ispc
index 84f48f6d..4fea07d0 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r--5.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r--5.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform a) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment-typeconv.ispc b/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment-typeconv.ispc
index 4ce6ee8e..88e18940 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment-typeconv.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment-typeconv.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform x, int y) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform x, int y) {
     *x = y;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment.ispc b/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment.ispc
index 96e2bc95..84c1b451 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r-erence-assignment.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform x, float y) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform x, float y) {
     *x = y;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ptr-r-erence-prepost-increment.ispc b/tests/ptr-r-erence-prepost-increment.ispc
index 02a6fcb4..b54b5115 100644
--- a/tests/ptr-r-erence-prepost-increment.ispc
+++ b/tests/ptr-r-erence-prepost-increment.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-void foo(float * uniform x) {
+void foo(varying float * uniform x) {
     if ((*x) <= 2)
         ++(*x);
 }
diff --git a/tests/ref-0.ispc b/tests/ref-0.ispc
index 2977c6cf..d6fe8f29 100644
--- a/tests/ref-0.ispc
+++ b/tests/ref-0.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
 
 
-float foo(float * uniform a) {
+float foo(varying float * uniform a) {
     *a = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/short-vec-6.ispc b/tests/short-vec-6.ispc
index 95d22b34..b7693c08 100644
--- a/tests/short-vec-6.ispc
+++ b/tests/short-vec-6.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ typedef int<4> int4;
 
 export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
-void inc(int4 * uniform v) {
+void inc(varying int4 * uniform v) {
     int4 delta = { 1, 1, 1, 1 };
     (*v) += delta;
 }
diff --git a/tests/short-vec-7.ispc b/tests/short-vec-7.ispc
index abfb96cd..9ad015d5 100644
--- a/tests/short-vec-7.ispc
+++ b/tests/short-vec-7.ispc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ typedef int<4> int4;
 
 export uniform int width() { return programCount; }
 
-void incXY(int4 * uniform v) {
+void incXY(varying int4 * uniform v) {
     ++(*v).x;
     ++(*v).y;
 }
diff --git a/tests_errors/array-plus-equals.ispc b/tests_errors/array-plus-equals.ispc
index 9d6f7d3f..0e0ba744 100644
--- a/tests_errors/array-plus-equals.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/array-plus-equals.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Illegal to assign to array type "float[5]"
+// Illegal to assign to array type "varying float[5]"
 
 void foo(float *x) {
     float a[5] = { 1,2,3,4,5};
diff --git a/tests_errors/array-pointer-assign.ispc b/tests_errors/array-pointer-assign.ispc
index a179c332..d709dbd3 100644
--- a/tests_errors/array-pointer-assign.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/array-pointer-assign.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Illegal to assign to array type "float[5]"
+// Illegal to assign to array type "varying float[5]"
 
 void foo(float *x) {
     float a[5] = { 1,2,3,4,5};
diff --git a/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member-2.ispc b/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member-2.ispc
index b2d80de1..7a8bae94 100644
--- a/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member-2.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member-2.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Illegal to assign to type "uniform struct Bar" in type "uniform struct Foo" due to element "a" with type "const int32"
+// Illegal to assign to type "uniform struct Bar" in type "uniform struct Foo" due to element "a" with type "const varying int32"
 
 struct Bar {
     const int a;
diff --git a/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member.ispc b/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member.ispc
index 320a768b..af85e7f3 100644
--- a/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/assign-struct-with-const-member.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Illegal to assign to type "uniform struct Foo" due to element "a" with type "const int32"
+// Illegal to assign to type "uniform struct Foo" due to element "a" with type "const varying int32"
 
 struct Foo {
     const int a;
diff --git a/tests_errors/const-1.ispc b/tests_errors/const-1.ispc
index f36276b5..088302d1 100644
--- a/tests_errors/const-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/const-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand
 
 int func() {
     const int x = 2;
diff --git a/tests_errors/const-global.ispc b/tests_errors/const-global.ispc
index 8a814a29..20ef463e 100644
--- a/tests_errors/const-global.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/const-global.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//  Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand side
+//  Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand side
 
 const int x = 0;
 
diff --git a/tests_errors/deref-1.ispc b/tests_errors/deref-1.ispc
index 256eff87..109a35b6 100644
--- a/tests_errors/deref-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/deref-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// operator "." can't be used with expression of "int32" type
+// operator "." can't be used with expression of "uniform int32" type
 
 int func(int *a) {
     a.x = 0;
diff --git a/tests_errors/deref-4.ispc b/tests_errors/deref-4.ispc
index 33877f72..79c277a8 100644
--- a/tests_errors/deref-4.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/deref-4.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Illegal to dereference non-pointer or reference type "float"
+// Illegal to dereference non-pointer or reference type "varying float"
 
 float func(float a) {
     *a = 0;
diff --git a/tests_errors/deref.ispc b/tests_errors/deref.ispc
index f5d571c9..a14a76b5 100644
--- a/tests_errors/deref.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/deref.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Member operator "->" can't be used with expression of "int32" type
+// Member operator "->" can't be used with expression of "uniform int32" type
 
 int func(int *a) {
     a->x = 0;
diff --git a/tests_errors/foreach-assign.ispc b/tests_errors/foreach-assign.ispc
index 4eb8a406..f978761c 100644
--- a/tests_errors/foreach-assign.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/foreach-assign.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" 
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" 
 
 int foo() {
     foreach (i = 0 ... 10) {
diff --git a/tests_errors/fptr-typecheck-2.ispc b/tests_errors/fptr-typecheck-2.ispc
index 3769b301..ea59fa54 100644
--- a/tests_errors/fptr-typecheck-2.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/fptr-typecheck-2.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't convert argument of type "void * uniform" to type "float" for function call argument.
+// Can't convert argument of type "void * uniform" to type "varying float" for function call argument.
 
 float bar(float a, float b);
 
diff --git a/tests_errors/initexpr-2.ispc b/tests_errors/initexpr-2.ispc
index 66b4a438..681fe6fc 100644
--- a/tests_errors/initexpr-2.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/initexpr-2.ispc
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-// Initializer list for array "int32[2][4]" must have no more than 2 elements (has 3)
+// Initializer list for array "varying int32[2][4]" must have no more than 2 elements (has 3)
 
 int a[2][4] = { { 1, 2, 3 }, { 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 1 };
diff --git a/tests_errors/new-delete-6.ispc b/tests_errors/new-delete-6.ispc
index a148298b..250441c2 100644
--- a/tests_errors/new-delete-6.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/new-delete-6.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't convert from varying type "int32 *" to uniform type "int32 * uniform" for return
+// Can't convert from type "uniform int32 * varying" to type "uniform int32 * uniform" for return
 
 int * uniform func(int x) {
     return new int[x];
diff --git a/tests_errors/new-delete-7.ispc b/tests_errors/new-delete-7.ispc
index 12a3b79a..e86bd089 100644
--- a/tests_errors/new-delete-7.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/new-delete-7.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't convert from varying type "float" to uniform type "uniform float" for initializer
+// Can't convert from type "varying float" to type "uniform float" for initializer
 
 struct Point {
     uniform float x, y, z;
diff --git a/tests_errors/ptr-const-1.ispc b/tests_errors/ptr-const-1.ispc
index b334fbe8..4dcfaa75 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ptr-const-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ptr-const-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32 * const"
+// Can't assign to type "const uniform int32 * const varying"
 
 void foo(const int * const p) {
     ++p;
diff --git a/tests_errors/ptr-const.ispc b/tests_errors/ptr-const.ispc
index 72f9aba2..7cdd5e30 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ptr-const.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ptr-const.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand side
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand side
 
 void foo(const int * p) {
     *p = 0;
diff --git a/tests_errors/ptrcast-lose-info.ispc b/tests_errors/ptrcast-lose-info.ispc
index fdaac83b..eb564482 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ptrcast-lose-info.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ptrcast-lose-info.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Pointer type cast of type "int32 * uniform" to integer type "uniform int32" may lose information.
+// Pointer type cast of type "varying int32 * uniform" to integer type "uniform int32" may lose information.
 
 int32 foo(int * uniform x)  {
     return (int32) x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/ref-const-array.ispc b/tests_errors/ref-const-array.ispc
index a6c2c4bc..39453a30 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ref-const-array.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ref-const-array.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand side of expression
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand side of expression
 
 const int x[20];
 
diff --git a/tests_errors/ref-const-struct-1.ispc b/tests_errors/ref-const-struct-1.ispc
index a1789fd6..35c236e5 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ref-const-struct-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ref-const-struct-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand side of expression
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand side of expression
 
 struct Foo {
     int x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/ref-const-struct.ispc b/tests_errors/ref-const-struct.ispc
index 078afc12..12282fa4 100644
--- a/tests_errors/ref-const-struct.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/ref-const-struct.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't assign to type "const int32" on left-hand side of expression
+// Can't assign to type "const varying int32" on left-hand side of expression
 
 struct Foo {
     int x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/signed-float-1.ispc b/tests_errors/signed-float-1.ispc
index ec2a7220..d98f88b5 100644
--- a/tests_errors/signed-float-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/signed-float-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't apply "signed" qualifier to "float" type
+// Can't apply "signed" qualifier to "varying float" type
 
 struct Foo {
     signed float x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/signed-float.ispc b/tests_errors/signed-float.ispc
index 418cd8db..8d72c0ff 100644
--- a/tests_errors/signed-float.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/signed-float.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// "signed" qualifier is illegal with non-integer type "float"
+// "signed" qualifier is illegal with non-integer type "varying float"
 
 int foo() {
     signed float x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/unsigned-float-1.ispc b/tests_errors/unsigned-float-1.ispc
index 2975c800..6d450201 100644
--- a/tests_errors/unsigned-float-1.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/unsigned-float-1.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't apply "unsigned" qualifier to "float" type
+// Can't apply "unsigned" qualifier to "varying float" type
 
 struct Foo {
     unsigned float x;
diff --git a/tests_errors/unsigned-float.ispc b/tests_errors/unsigned-float.ispc
index f97dc6dd..9b1f1883 100644
--- a/tests_errors/unsigned-float.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/unsigned-float.ispc
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-// "unsigned" qualifier is illegal with "float" type
+// "unsigned" qualifier is illegal with "varying float" type
 
 unsigned float foo = 1;
diff --git a/tests_errors/vary-to-unif-typecast.ispc b/tests_errors/vary-to-unif-typecast.ispc
index ca60749a..8042e54e 100644
--- a/tests_errors/vary-to-unif-typecast.ispc
+++ b/tests_errors/vary-to-unif-typecast.ispc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Can't type cast from varying type "int32" to uniform type "uniform int32"
+// Can't type cast from type "varying int32" to type "uniform int32"
 
 uniform int foo(int x)  {
     return (uniform int) x;
diff --git a/type.cpp b/type.cpp
index 01fb1c71..a9988f4e 100644
--- a/type.cpp
+++ b/type.cpp
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ AtomicType::GetString() const {
         if (isConst)   ret += "const ";
         switch (variability) {
         case Uniform: ret += "uniform ";     break;
-        case Varying: /*ret += "varying ";*/ break;
+        case Varying: ret += "varying ";     break;
         case Unbound: ret += "/*unbound*/ "; break;
         }
     }
@@ -986,9 +986,17 @@ PointerType::ResolveUnboundVariability(Variability v) const {
         Assert(m->errorCount > 0);
         return NULL;
     }
-    return new PointerType(baseType->ResolveUnboundVariability(v),
-                           (variability == Unbound) ? v : variability,
-                           isConst);
+
+    Assert(v != Unbound);
+    Variability ptrVariability = (variability == Unbound) ? v : variability;
+    Variability childVariability = (ptrVariability == Varying) ? 
+        Uniform : Varying;
+    if (dynamic_cast<const StructType *>(baseType))
+        // struct members are varying by default.. (FIXME!!!)
+        childVariability = Varying;
+
+    return new PointerType(baseType->ResolveUnboundVariability(childVariability),
+                           ptrVariability, isConst);
 }
 
 
@@ -1030,7 +1038,7 @@ PointerType::GetString() const {
     if (isConst) ret += " const";
     switch (variability) {
     case Uniform: ret += " uniform";     break;
-    case Varying: /*ret += " varying";*/ break;
+    case Varying: ret += " varying";     break;
     case Unbound: ret += " /*unbound*/"; break;
     }
 
@@ -1964,7 +1972,7 @@ StructType::GetString() const {
 
     switch (variability) {
     case Uniform: ret += "uniform ";     break;
-    case Varying: /*ret += "varying ";*/ break;
+    case Varying: ret += "varying ";     break;
     case Unbound: ret += "/*unbound*/ "; break;
     }