diff --git a/a.out b/a.out
index 9a54c1f..8bc6f17 100755
Binary files a/a.out and b/a.out differ
diff --git a/a.sl b/a.sl
index 9f3cb37..5ce78b8 100644
--- a/a.sl
+++ b/a.sl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import stdlib.sl
 
 : main
-    "hello world" puts
+    "hello world" puts_str
 ;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build/a.asm b/build/a.asm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26aed90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/a.asm
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+section .text
+%define DSTK_BYTES 65536
+%define RSTK_BYTES 65536
+%define PRINT_BUF_BYTES 128
+global _start
+_start:
+    ; initialize data/return stack pointers
+    lea r12, [rel dstack_top]
+    mov r15, r12
+    lea r13, [rel rstack_top]
+    call word_main
+    mov rax, 0
+    cmp r12, r15
+    je .no_exit_value
+    mov rax, [r12]
+    add r12, 8
+.no_exit_value:
+    mov rdi, rax
+    mov rax, 60
+    syscall
+word_puts:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, rax
+	mov r8, 0
+	cmp rbx, 0
+	jge puts_abs
+	neg rbx
+	mov r8, 1
+puts_abs:
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf_end]
+	mov rcx, 0
+	mov r10, 10
+	cmp rbx, 0
+	jne puts_digits
+	dec rsi
+	mov byte [rsi], '0'
+	inc rcx
+	jmp puts_sign
+puts_digits:
+puts_loop:
+	xor rdx, rdx
+	mov rax, rbx
+	div r10
+	add dl, '0'
+	dec rsi
+	mov [rsi], dl
+	inc rcx
+	mov rbx, rax
+	test rbx, rbx
+	jne puts_loop
+puts_sign:
+	cmp r8, 0
+	je puts_finish_digits
+	dec rsi
+	mov byte [rsi], '-'
+	inc rcx
+puts_finish_digits:
+	mov byte [rsi + rcx], 10
+	inc rcx
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	mov rdx, rcx
+	mov r9, rsi
+	mov rsi, r9
+	syscall
+    ret
+word_puts_str:
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+    ret
+word_dup:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_drop:
+	add r12, 8
+    ret
+word_over:
+	mov rax, [r12 + 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_swap:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	mov rbx, [r12 + 8]
+	mov [r12], rbx
+	mov [r12 + 8], rax
+    ret
+word__2b:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	add qword [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	sub qword [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2a:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	imul qword [r12]
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2f:
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	cqo
+	idiv rbx
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__25:
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	cqo
+	idiv rbx
+	mov [r12], rdx
+    ret
+word__3d_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	sete bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__21_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setne bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3c:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setl bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3e:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setg bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3c_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setle bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3e_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setge bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__40:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	mov rax, [rax]
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__21:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	mov [rax], rbx
+	add r12, 8
+    ret
+word_mmap:
+	mov r9, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov r8, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov r10, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	mov rax, 9
+	syscall
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_munmap:
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	mov rax, 11
+	syscall
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_exit:
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, 60
+	syscall
+    ret
+word__3er:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	sub r13, 8
+	mov [r13], rax
+    ret
+word_r_3e:
+	mov rax, [r13]
+	add r13, 8
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_rdrop:
+	add r13, 8
+    ret
+word_pick:
+	mov rcx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12 + rcx * 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_rpick:
+	mov rcx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r13 + rcx * 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_main:
+    ; push str_0
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], str_0
+    ; push 11
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], 11
+    call word_puts_str
+    ret
+section .data
+str_0: db 104, 101, 108, 108, 111, 32, 119, 111, 114, 108, 100, 0
+str_0_len equ 11
+section .bss
+align 16
+dstack: resb DSTK_BYTES
+dstack_top:
+align 16
+rstack: resb RSTK_BYTES
+rstack_top:
+align 16
+print_buf: resb PRINT_BUF_BYTES
+print_buf_end:
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build/a.o b/build/a.o
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..515fd45
Binary files /dev/null and b/build/a.o differ
diff --git a/build/call_syntax_parens.asm b/build/call_syntax_parens.asm
index 0bd0700..7df47c7 100644
--- a/build/call_syntax_parens.asm
+++ b/build/call_syntax_parens.asm
@@ -65,6 +65,25 @@ puts_finish_digits:
 	mov rsi, r9
 	syscall
     ret
+word_puts_str:
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+    ret
 word_dup:
 	mov rax, [r12]
 	sub r12, 8
diff --git a/build/call_syntax_parens.o b/build/call_syntax_parens.o
index 2cb5c54..4f2a189 100644
Binary files a/build/call_syntax_parens.o and b/build/call_syntax_parens.o differ
diff --git a/build/loops_and_cmp.asm b/build/loops_and_cmp.asm
index c6ae2cf..58926cf 100644
--- a/build/loops_and_cmp.asm
+++ b/build/loops_and_cmp.asm
@@ -65,6 +65,25 @@ puts_finish_digits:
 	mov rsi, r9
 	syscall
     ret
+word_puts_str:
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+    ret
 word_dup:
 	mov rax, [r12]
 	sub r12, 8
diff --git a/build/loops_and_cmp.o b/build/loops_and_cmp.o
index 1f7e196..8e4f71d 100644
Binary files a/build/loops_and_cmp.o and b/build/loops_and_cmp.o differ
diff --git a/build/override_dup_compile_time.asm b/build/override_dup_compile_time.asm
index 1fc2fbb..99c6ae4 100644
--- a/build/override_dup_compile_time.asm
+++ b/build/override_dup_compile_time.asm
@@ -65,6 +65,25 @@ puts_finish_digits:
 	mov rsi, r9
 	syscall
     ret
+word_puts_str:
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+    ret
 word_dup:
 	mov rax, [r12]
 	sub r12, 8
diff --git a/build/override_dup_compile_time.o b/build/override_dup_compile_time.o
index 14b8148..388f9eb 100644
Binary files a/build/override_dup_compile_time.o and b/build/override_dup_compile_time.o differ
diff --git a/build/string_puts.asm b/build/string_puts.asm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..edace3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/string_puts.asm
@@ -0,0 +1,305 @@
+section .text
+%define DSTK_BYTES 65536
+%define RSTK_BYTES 65536
+%define PRINT_BUF_BYTES 128
+global _start
+_start:
+    ; initialize data/return stack pointers
+    lea r12, [rel dstack_top]
+    mov r15, r12
+    lea r13, [rel rstack_top]
+    call word_main
+    mov rax, 0
+    cmp r12, r15
+    je .no_exit_value
+    mov rax, [r12]
+    add r12, 8
+.no_exit_value:
+    mov rdi, rax
+    mov rax, 60
+    syscall
+word_puts:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, rax
+	mov r8, 0
+	cmp rbx, 0
+	jge puts_abs
+	neg rbx
+	mov r8, 1
+puts_abs:
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf_end]
+	mov rcx, 0
+	mov r10, 10
+	cmp rbx, 0
+	jne puts_digits
+	dec rsi
+	mov byte [rsi], '0'
+	inc rcx
+	jmp puts_sign
+puts_digits:
+puts_loop:
+	xor rdx, rdx
+	mov rax, rbx
+	div r10
+	add dl, '0'
+	dec rsi
+	mov [rsi], dl
+	inc rcx
+	mov rbx, rax
+	test rbx, rbx
+	jne puts_loop
+puts_sign:
+	cmp r8, 0
+	je puts_finish_digits
+	dec rsi
+	mov byte [rsi], '-'
+	inc rcx
+puts_finish_digits:
+	mov byte [rsi + rcx], 10
+	inc rcx
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	mov rdx, rcx
+	mov r9, rsi
+	mov rsi, r9
+	syscall
+    ret
+word_puts_str:
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+    ret
+word_dup:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_drop:
+	add r12, 8
+    ret
+word_over:
+	mov rax, [r12 + 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_swap:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	mov rbx, [r12 + 8]
+	mov [r12], rbx
+	mov [r12 + 8], rax
+    ret
+word__2b:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	add qword [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	sub qword [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2a:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	imul qword [r12]
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__2f:
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	cqo
+	idiv rbx
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__25:
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	cqo
+	idiv rbx
+	mov [r12], rdx
+    ret
+word__3d_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	sete bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__21_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setne bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3c:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setl bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3e:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setg bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3c_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setle bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__3e_3d:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	cmp rbx, rax
+	mov rbx, 0
+	setge bl
+	mov [r12], rbx
+    ret
+word__40:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	mov rax, [rax]
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word__21:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rbx, [r12]
+	mov [rax], rbx
+	add r12, 8
+    ret
+word_mmap:
+	mov r9, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov r8, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov r10, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	mov rax, 9
+	syscall
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_munmap:
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	mov rax, 11
+	syscall
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_exit:
+	mov rdi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, 60
+	syscall
+    ret
+word__3er:
+	mov rax, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	sub r13, 8
+	mov [r13], rax
+    ret
+word_r_3e:
+	mov rax, [r13]
+	add r13, 8
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_rdrop:
+	add r13, 8
+    ret
+word_pick:
+	mov rcx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r12 + rcx * 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_rpick:
+	mov rcx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rax, [r13 + rcx * 8]
+	sub r12, 8
+	mov [r12], rax
+    ret
+word_main:
+    ; push str_0
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], str_0
+    ; push 11
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], 11
+    call word_puts_str
+    ; push str_1
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], str_1
+    ; push 11
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], 11
+    call word_puts_str
+    ; push str_2
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], str_2
+    ; push 0
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], 0
+    call word_puts_str
+    ; push 0
+    sub r12, 8
+    mov qword [r12], 0
+    ret
+section .data
+str_0: db 104, 101, 108, 108, 111, 32, 119, 111, 114, 108, 100, 0
+str_0_len equ 11
+str_1: db 108, 105, 110, 101, 49, 10, 108, 105, 110, 101, 50, 0
+str_1_len equ 11
+str_2: db 0
+str_2_len equ 0
+section .bss
+align 16
+dstack: resb DSTK_BYTES
+dstack_top:
+align 16
+rstack: resb RSTK_BYTES
+rstack_top:
+align 16
+print_buf: resb PRINT_BUF_BYTES
+print_buf_end:
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build/string_puts.o b/build/string_puts.o
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b8d1c8
Binary files /dev/null and b/build/string_puts.o differ
diff --git a/hello.sl b/hello.sl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ce78b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello.sl
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import stdlib.sl
+
+: main
+    "hello world" puts_str
+;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 7bffc89..1ea71d1 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1006,6 +1006,13 @@ class FunctionEmitter:
 			f"    mov qword [r12], {value}",
 		])
 
+	def push_label(self, label: str) -> None:
+		self.text.extend([
+			f"    ; push {label}",
+			"    sub r12, 8",
+			f"    mov qword [r12], {label}",
+		])
+
 	def push_from(self, register: str) -> None:
 		self.text.extend([
 			"    sub r12, 8",
@@ -1083,10 +1090,14 @@ class Assembler:
 		self.dictionary = dictionary
 		self.stack_bytes = 65536
 		self.io_buffer_bytes = 128
+		self._string_literals: Dict[str, Tuple[str, int]] = {}
+		self._data_section: Optional[List[str]] = None
 
 	def emit(self, module: Module) -> Emission:
 		emission = Emission()
 		emission.text.extend(self._runtime_prelude())
+		self._string_literals = {}
+		self._data_section = emission.data
 
 		valid_defs = (Definition, AsmDefinition)
 		definitions = [form for form in module.forms if isinstance(form, valid_defs)]
@@ -1104,8 +1115,23 @@ class Assembler:
 			self._emit_definition(definition, emission.text)
 
 		emission.bss.extend(self._bss_layout())
+		self._data_section = None
 		return emission
 
+	def _intern_string_literal(self, value: str) -> Tuple[str, int]:
+		if self._data_section is None:
+			raise CompileError("string literal emission requested without data section")
+		if value in self._string_literals:
+			return self._string_literals[value]
+		label = f"str_{len(self._string_literals)}"
+		encoded = value.encode("utf-8")
+		bytes_with_nul = list(encoded) + [0]
+		byte_list = ", ".join(str(b) for b in bytes_with_nul)
+		self._data_section.append(f"{label}: db {byte_list}")
+		self._data_section.append(f"{label}_len equ {len(encoded)}")
+		self._string_literals[value] = (label, len(encoded))
+		return self._string_literals[value]
+
 	def _emit_definition(self, definition: Union[Definition, AsmDefinition], text: List[str]) -> None:
 		label = sanitize_label(definition.name)
 		text.append(f"{label}:")
@@ -1131,9 +1157,15 @@ class Assembler:
 
 	def _emit_node(self, node: ASTNode, builder: FunctionEmitter) -> None:
 		if isinstance(node, Literal):
-			if not isinstance(node.value, int):
-				raise CompileError("string literals are compile-time only")
-			builder.push_literal(node.value)
+			if isinstance(node.value, int):
+				builder.push_literal(node.value)
+				return
+			if isinstance(node.value, str):
+				label, length = self._intern_string_literal(node.value)
+				builder.push_label(label)
+				builder.push_literal(length)
+				return
+			raise CompileError(f"unsupported literal type {type(node.value)!r}")
 			return
 		if isinstance(node, WordRef):
 			self._emit_wordref(node, builder)
diff --git a/stdlib.sl b/stdlib.sl
index 28381c8..d7b2c85 100644
--- a/stdlib.sl
+++ b/stdlib.sl
@@ -47,6 +47,27 @@ puts_finish_digits:
 }
 ;
 
+:asm puts_str {
+	; expects (addr, len) on data stack
+	mov rdx, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	mov rsi, [r12]
+	add r12, 8
+	cmp rdx, 0
+	je puts_str_write_newline
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	syscall
+puts_str_write_newline:
+	mov byte [rel print_buf], 10
+	mov rax, 1
+	mov rdi, 1
+	lea rsi, [rel print_buf]
+	mov rdx, 1
+	syscall
+}
+;
+
 :asm dup {
 	mov rax, [r12]
 	sub r12, 8
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.py b/tests/run_tests.py
index 68a6af3..4578995 100644
--- a/tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tests/run_tests.py
@@ -99,6 +99,20 @@ compile-only
 """,
         expected_stdout="6\n",
     ),
+    TestCase(
+        name="string_puts",
+        source=f"""
+import {ROOT / 'stdlib.sl'}
+
+: main
+    \"hello world\" puts_str
+    \"line1\\nline2\" puts_str
+    \"\" puts_str
+    0
+;
+""",
+        expected_stdout="hello world\nline1\nline2\n\n",
+    ),
 ]