diff --git a/nois.bnf b/nois.bnf
index 34e8e326..eceb17b8 100644
--- a/nois.bnf
+++ b/nois.bnf
@@ -44,9 +44,7 @@ statement             ::= var-def | fn-def | trait-def | impl-def | type-def | r
                       ;
     sub-expr          ::= operand postfix-op*
                       ;
-      operand         ::= if-expr
-                      | if-let-expr
-                      | while-expr
+      operand         ::= while-expr
                       | for-expr
                       | match-expr
                       | closure-expr
@@ -114,10 +112,6 @@ list-expr             ::= O-BRACKET (expr (COMMA expr)*)? COMMA? C-BRACKET
                       ;
 type-annot            ::= COLON type
                       ;
-if-expr               ::= IF-KEYWORD expr block (ELSE-KEYWORD block)?
-                      ;
-if-let-expr           ::= IF-KEYWORD LET-KEYWORD pattern EQUALS expr block (ELSE-KEYWORD block)?
-                      ;
 while-expr            ::= WHILE-KEYWORD expr block
                       ;
 for-expr              ::= FOR-KEYWORD pattern IN-KEYWORD expr block
diff --git a/src/ast/index.ts b/src/ast/index.ts
index fcdf7f47..ae086958 100644
--- a/src/ast/index.ts
+++ b/src/ast/index.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ export const astExprKinds = <const>[
     'binary-expr',
     'closure-expr',
     'list-expr',
-    'if-let-expr',
     'while-expr',
     'for-expr',
     'match-expr'
@@ -182,7 +181,6 @@ export const astKinds = <const>[
     'type-bounds',
     'fn-type',
     'generic',
-    'if-expr',
     'match-clause',
     'pattern',
     'con-pattern',
diff --git a/src/ast/operand.ts b/src/ast/operand.ts
index f064dc22..b437e453 100644
--- a/src/ast/operand.ts
+++ b/src/ast/operand.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { LexerToken } from '../lexer/lexer'
 import { ParseNode, ParseTree, filterNonAstNodes } from '../parser'
 import { nameLikeTokens } from '../parser/fns'
 import { Context, Definition } from '../scope'
-import { VirtualIdentifierMatch } from '../scope/vid'
 import { Virtual } from '../semantic'
 import { assert } from '../util/todo'
 import { Expr, buildExpr } from './expr'
@@ -12,8 +11,6 @@ import { Block, buildBlock, buildStatement } from './statement'
 import { Type, buildType } from './type'
 
 export type Operand = (
-    | IfExpr
-    | IfLetExpr
     | WhileExpr
     | ForExpr
     | MatchExpr
@@ -33,10 +30,6 @@ export type Operand = (
 export const buildOperand = (node: ParseNode, ctx: Context): Operand => {
     const n = filterNonAstNodes(node)[0]
     switch (n.kind) {
-        case 'if-expr':
-            return buildIfExpr(n, ctx)
-        case 'if-let-expr':
-            return buildIfLetExpr(n, ctx)
         case 'while-expr':
             return buildWhileExpr(n, ctx)
         case 'for-expr':
@@ -71,49 +64,6 @@ export const identifierFromOperand = (operand: Operand): Identifier | undefined
     return undefined
 }
 
-export type IfExpr = BaseAstNode & {
-    kind: 'if-expr'
-    condition: Expr
-    thenBlock: Block
-    elseBlock?: Block
-}
-
-export const buildIfExpr = (node: ParseNode, ctx: Context): IfExpr => {
-    const nodes = filterNonAstNodes(node)
-    let idx = 0
-    // skip if-keyword
-    idx++
-    const condition = buildExpr(nodes[idx++], ctx)
-    const thenBlock = buildBlock(nodes[idx++], ctx)
-    // skip else keyword
-    idx++
-    const elseBlock = nodes.at(idx) ? buildBlock(nodes[idx++], ctx) : undefined
-    return { kind: 'if-expr', parseNode: node, condition, thenBlock, elseBlock }
-}
-
-export type IfLetExpr = BaseAstNode & {
-    kind: 'if-let-expr'
-    pattern: Pattern
-    expr: Expr
-    thenBlock: Block
-    elseBlock?: Block
-}
-
-export const buildIfLetExpr = (node: ParseNode, ctx: Context): IfLetExpr => {
-    const nodes = filterNonAstNodes(node)
-    let idx = 0
-    // skip if and let keywords
-    idx++
-    idx++
-    const pattern = buildPattern(nodes[idx++], ctx)
-    const expr = buildExpr(nodes[idx++], ctx)
-    const thenBlock = buildBlock(nodes[idx++], ctx)
-    // skip else keyword
-    idx++
-    const elseBlock = nodes.at(idx) ? buildBlock(nodes[idx++], ctx) : undefined
-    return { kind: 'if-let-expr', parseNode: node, pattern, expr, thenBlock, elseBlock }
-}
-
 export type WhileExpr = BaseAstNode & {
     kind: 'while-expr'
     condition: Expr
diff --git a/src/codegen/js/expr.ts b/src/codegen/js/expr.ts
index bc160b09..f99a9b6a 100644
--- a/src/codegen/js/expr.ts
+++ b/src/codegen/js/expr.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { operatorImplMap } from '../../semantic/op'
 import { ConcreteGeneric } from '../../typecheck'
 import { unreachable } from '../../util/todo'
 import { EmitNode, EmitToken, emitToken, emitTree, jsError, jsVariable } from './node'
-import { emitBlock, emitBlockStatements } from './statement'
+import { emitBlockStatements } from './statement'
 
 export type EmitExpr = {
     emit: EmitNode
@@ -182,26 +182,6 @@ export const emitBinaryExpr = (binaryExpr: BinaryExpr, ctx: Context): EmitExpr =
 export const emitOperand = (operand: Operand, ctx: Context): EmitExpr => {
     const resultVar = nextVariable(ctx)
     switch (operand.kind) {
-        case 'if-expr': {
-            const { emit: cEmit, resultVar: cVar } = emitExpr(operand.condition, ctx)
-            const thenBlock = emitBlock(operand.thenBlock, ctx, resultVar)
-            const elseBlock = operand.elseBlock
-                ? emitTree([emitToken('else'), emitBlock(operand.elseBlock, ctx, resultVar)])
-                : emitToken('')
-            return {
-                emit: emitTree([
-                    jsVariable(resultVar),
-                    cEmit,
-                    emitToken(`if(${extractValue(cVar)})`),
-                    thenBlock,
-                    elseBlock
-                ]),
-                resultVar
-            }
-        }
-        case 'if-let-expr':
-            // TODO
-            return { emit: jsError('if-let'), resultVar }
         case 'while-expr': {
             const { emit: cEmit, resultVar: cVar } = emitExpr(operand.condition, ctx)
             const { emit: cEndEmit, resultVar: cEndVar } = emitExpr(operand.condition, ctx)
diff --git a/src/parser/fns/expr.ts b/src/parser/fns/expr.ts
index 2ffb3479..7544bf7c 100644
--- a/src/parser/fns/expr.ts
+++ b/src/parser/fns/expr.ts
@@ -38,18 +38,14 @@ export const parseSubExpr = (parser: Parser): void => {
 }
 
 /**
- * operand ::= if-expr | match-expr | closure-expr | O-PAREN expr C-PAREN | list-expr | STRING | CHAR | number | TRUE
+ * operand ::= match-expr | closure-expr | O-PAREN expr C-PAREN | list-expr | STRING | CHAR | number | TRUE
  * | FALSE | identifier | type
  */
 export const parseOperand = (parser: Parser): void => {
     const dynamicTokens: TokenKind[] = ['char', 'int', 'float', 'bool']
 
     const mark = parser.open()
-    if (parser.at('if-keyword') && parser.nth(1) === 'let-keyword') {
-        parseIfLetExpr(parser)
-    } else if (parser.at('if-keyword')) {
-        parseIfExpr(parser)
-    } else if (parser.at('while-keyword')) {
+    if (parser.at('while-keyword')) {
         parseWhileExpr(parser)
     } else if (parser.at('for-keyword')) {
         parseForExpr(parser)
@@ -94,37 +90,6 @@ export const parseListExpr = (parser: Parser): void => {
     parser.close(mark, 'list-expr')
 }
 
-/**
- * if-expr ::= IF-KEYWORD expr block (ELSE-KEYWORD block)?
- */
-export const parseIfExpr = (parser: Parser): void => {
-    const mark = parser.open()
-    parser.expect('if-keyword')
-    parseExpr(parser)
-    parseBlock(parser)
-    if (parser.consume('else-keyword')) {
-        parseBlock(parser)
-    }
-    parser.close(mark, 'if-expr')
-}
-
-/**
- * if-let-expr ::= IF-KEYWORD LET-KEYWORD pattern EQUALS expr block (ELSE-KEYWORD block)?
- */
-export const parseIfLetExpr = (parser: Parser): void => {
-    const mark = parser.open()
-    parser.expect('if-keyword')
-    parser.expect('let-keyword')
-    parsePattern(parser)
-    parser.expect('equals')
-    parseExpr(parser)
-    parseBlock(parser)
-    if (parser.consume('else-keyword')) {
-        parseBlock(parser)
-    }
-    parser.close(mark, 'if-let-expr')
-}
-
 /**
  * while-expr ::= WHILE-KEYWORD expr block
  */
diff --git a/src/parser/index.ts b/src/parser/index.ts
index 77c322bb..ee685d44 100644
--- a/src/parser/index.ts
+++ b/src/parser/index.ts
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ export const treeKinds = <const>[
     'type-bounds',
     'fn-type',
     'fn-type-params',
-    'if-expr',
-    'if-let-expr',
     'while-expr',
     'for-expr',
     'match-expr',
diff --git a/src/parser/parser.spec.ts b/src/parser/parser.spec.ts
index 1f9dc2d6..ac3c668f 100644
--- a/src/parser/parser.spec.ts
+++ b/src/parser/parser.spec.ts
@@ -161,53 +161,6 @@ describe('parser', () => {
         })
     })
 
-    describe('if-expr', () => {
-        it('general', () => {
-            const { tree, errors } = parse('if a { b } else { c }')
-            expect(errors).toEqual([])
-            // biome-ignore format: compact
-            expect(tree).toEqual(
-{ module:
-   [ { statement:
-        [ { expr:
-             [ { 'sub-expr':
-                  [ { operand:
-                       [ { 'if-expr':
-                            [ { 'if-keyword': 'if' },
-                              { expr: [ { 'sub-expr': [ { operand: [ { identifier: [ { name: 'a' } ] } ] } ] } ] },
-                              { block:
-                                 [ { 'o-brace': '{' },
-                                   { statement: [ { expr: [ { 'sub-expr': [ { operand: [ { identifier: [ { name: 'b' } ] } ] } ] } ] } ] },
-                                   { 'c-brace': '}' } ] },
-                              { 'else-keyword': 'else' },
-                              { block:
-                                 [ { 'o-brace': '{' },
-                                   { statement: [ { expr: [ { 'sub-expr': [ { operand: [ { identifier: [ { name: 'c' } ] } ] } ] } ] } ] },
-                                   { 'c-brace': '}' } ] } ] } ] } ] } ] } ] } ] }
-            )
-        })
-
-        it('mismatch paren', () => {
-            const { errors } = parse('if a { b) }')
-            expect(errors.length).toEqual(1)
-            expect(errors[0]).toEqual({
-                expected: [],
-                got: { kind: 'c-paren', span: { end: 9, start: 8 }, value: ')' },
-                message: 'expected statement'
-            })
-        })
-
-        it('duplicate else clause', () => {
-            const { errors } = parse('if a { b } else { c } else { d }')
-            expect(errors.length).toEqual(2)
-            expect(errors[0]).toEqual({
-                expected: [],
-                got: { kind: 'o-brace', span: { end: 28, start: 27 }, value: '{' },
-                message: 'expected statement'
-            })
-        })
-    })
-
     describe('match', () => {
         it('list-pattern', () => {
             const { tree, errors } = parse('match a { [] {} [b, tail] {} }')
diff --git a/src/phase/name-resolve.ts b/src/phase/name-resolve.ts
index 655d0740..36769df2 100644
--- a/src/phase/name-resolve.ts
+++ b/src/phase/name-resolve.ts
@@ -44,14 +44,6 @@ export const resolveName = (node: AstNode, ctx: Context): void => {
             node.bounds.forEach(b => resolveName(b, ctx))
             break
         }
-        case 'if-expr': {
-            resolveName(node.condition, ctx)
-            resolveName(node.thenBlock, ctx)
-            if (node.elseBlock) {
-                resolveName(node.elseBlock, ctx)
-            }
-            break
-        }
         case 'match-clause': {
             withScope(ctx, () => {
                 node.patterns.forEach(p => resolveName(p, ctx))
diff --git a/src/semantic/expr.ts b/src/semantic/expr.ts
index 911aeecf..485f38a3 100644
--- a/src/semantic/expr.ts
+++ b/src/semantic/expr.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Arg, AstNode } from '../ast'
 import { BinaryExpr, Expr, UnaryExpr } from '../ast/expr'
 import { MatchExpr } from '../ast/match'
 import { CallOp } from '../ast/op'
-import { ClosureExpr, ForExpr, Identifier, IfExpr, IfLetExpr, ListExpr, Name, Operand, WhileExpr } from '../ast/operand'
+import { ClosureExpr, ForExpr, Identifier, ListExpr, Name, Operand, WhileExpr } from '../ast/operand'
 import { FieldDef } from '../ast/type-def'
 import { Context, Scope, addError, enterScope, fnDefScope, instanceScope, leaveScope } from '../scope'
 import { bool, future, iter, iterable, show, string, unwrap } from '../scope/std'
@@ -75,12 +75,6 @@ export const checkOperand = (operand: Operand, ctx: Context): void => {
             checkOperand(operand.operand, ctx)
             operand.type = operand.operand.type
             break
-        case 'if-expr':
-            checkIfExpr(operand, ctx)
-            break
-        case 'if-let-expr':
-            checkIfLetExpr(operand, ctx)
-            break
         case 'while-expr':
             checkWhileExpr(operand, ctx)
             break
@@ -231,63 +225,6 @@ export const checkBinaryExpr = (binaryExpr: BinaryExpr, ctx: Context): void => {
     }
 }
 
-export const checkIfExpr = (ifExpr: IfExpr, ctx: Context): void => {
-    const module = ctx.moduleStack.at(-1)!
-    const scope = module.scopeStack.at(-1)!
-
-    checkExpr(ifExpr.condition, ctx)
-    const condType = ifExpr.condition.type ?? unknownType
-    if (!isAssignable(condType, bool, ctx)) {
-        addError(ctx, typeError(ctx, ifExpr.condition, condType, bool))
-    }
-
-    checkIfExprCommon(ifExpr, scope, ctx)
-}
-
-export const checkIfLetExpr = (ifLetExpr: IfLetExpr, ctx: Context): void => {
-    const module = ctx.moduleStack.at(-1)!
-    const scopeOuter = module.scopeStack.at(-1)!
-    const scope: Scope = {
-        kind: 'block',
-        definitions: new Map(),
-        closures: [],
-        isLoop: false,
-        allBranchesReturned: false
-    }
-    enterScope(module, scope, ctx)
-
-    checkExpr(ifLetExpr.expr, ctx)
-    assert(!!ifLetExpr.expr.type)
-    // pattern definitions should only be available in `then` block
-    checkPattern(ifLetExpr.pattern, ifLetExpr.expr.type!, ctx)
-
-    checkIfExprCommon(ifLetExpr, scopeOuter, ctx)
-
-    leaveScope(module, ctx)
-}
-
-export const checkIfExprCommon = (ifExpr: IfExpr | IfLetExpr, scope: Scope, ctx: Context): void => {
-    const thenAbr = checkBlock(ifExpr.thenBlock, ctx)
-    if (ifExpr.elseBlock) {
-        const elseAbr = checkBlock(ifExpr.elseBlock, ctx)
-
-        if (scope.kind === 'block' && thenAbr && elseAbr) {
-            scope.allBranchesReturned = true
-        }
-
-        const thenType = ifExpr.thenBlock.type!
-        const elseType = ifExpr.elseBlock.type!
-        const combined = combine(thenType, elseType, ctx)
-        if (combined) {
-            ifExpr.type = combined
-        } else {
-            ifExpr.type = { kind: 'unknown-type', mismatchedBranches: { then: thenType, else: elseType } }
-        }
-    } else {
-        ifExpr.type = { kind: 'unknown-type', mismatchedBranches: { then: ifExpr.thenBlock.type! } }
-    }
-}
-
 export const checkWhileExpr = (whileExpr: WhileExpr, ctx: Context): void => {
     const module = ctx.moduleStack.at(-1)!
     const outerScope = module.scopeStack.at(-1)!