diff --git a/examples/36-protocols.sx b/examples/36-protocols.sx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e274214
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/36-protocols.sx
@@ -0,0 +1,380 @@
+// Dedicated protocol test suite
+// Tests: declaration, impl, inline/vtable dispatch, default methods,
+//        Self type, generic constraints, generic struct impls, xx on literals
+
+#import "modules/std.sx";
+
+Point :: struct { x, y: s32; }
+
+// --- P1: vtable protocol (default layout) ---
+
+Counter :: protocol {
+    inc :: ();
+    get :: () -> s32;
+}
+
+SimpleCounter :: struct { val: s32; }
+
+impl Counter for SimpleCounter {
+    inc :: (self: *SimpleCounter) { self.val += 1; }
+    get :: (self: *SimpleCounter) -> s32 { self.val; }
+}
+
+// --- P2: #inline protocol ---
+
+Adder :: protocol #inline {
+    add :: (n: s32);
+    value :: () -> s32;
+}
+
+Accumulator :: struct { total: s32; }
+
+impl Adder for Accumulator {
+    add :: (self: *Accumulator, n: s32) { self.total += n; }
+    value :: (self: *Accumulator) -> s32 { self.total; }
+}
+
+Doubler :: struct { val: s32; }
+
+impl Adder for Doubler {
+    add :: (self: *Doubler, n: s32) { self.val = self.val + n + n; }
+    value :: (self: *Doubler) -> s32 { self.val; }
+}
+
+// --- P3: Summable (for generic constraint tests) ---
+
+Summable :: protocol {
+    sum :: () -> s32;
+}
+
+impl Summable for Point {
+    sum :: (self: *Point) -> s32 { self.x + self.y; }
+}
+
+// --- P4: default methods ---
+
+Repeater :: protocol {
+    say :: (msg: string);
+    say_twice :: (msg: string) {
+        self.say(msg);
+        self.say(msg);
+    }
+}
+
+Printer :: struct { count: s32; }
+
+impl Repeater for Printer {
+    say :: (self: *Printer, msg: string) {
+        self.count += 1;
+        out(msg);
+    }
+}
+
+// Chained default→default calls
+Chained :: protocol {
+    base :: (msg: string) -> s32;
+    wrap :: (msg: string) -> s32 {
+        self.base(msg) + 1;
+    }
+    double_wrap :: (msg: string) -> s32 {
+        self.wrap(msg) + self.wrap(msg);
+    }
+}
+
+ChainImpl :: struct { val: s32; }
+impl Chained for ChainImpl {
+    base :: (self: *ChainImpl, msg: string) -> s32 {
+        self.val += 1;
+        msg.len;
+    }
+}
+
+// --- P5: Self type ---
+
+Eq :: protocol {
+    eq :: (other: Self) -> bool;
+}
+
+impl Eq for Point {
+    eq :: (self: *Point, other: Point) -> bool {
+        self.x == other.x and self.y == other.y;
+    }
+}
+
+Cloneable :: protocol {
+    clone :: () -> Self;
+}
+
+impl Cloneable for Point {
+    clone :: (self: *Point) -> Point {
+        Point.{ x = self.x, y = self.y };
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for s64 {
+    eq :: (self: *s64, other: s64) -> bool {
+        self.* == other;
+    }
+}
+
+// --- P6: generic constraints ---
+
+are_equal :: ($T: Type/Eq, a: T, b: T) -> bool {
+    a.eq(b);
+}
+
+Hashable :: protocol {
+    hash :: () -> s64;
+}
+
+impl Hashable for Point {
+    hash :: (self: *Point) -> s64 {
+        xx self.x * 31 + xx self.y;
+    }
+}
+
+eq_and_hash :: ($T: Type/Eq/Hashable, a: T, b: T) -> bool {
+    if a.hash() != b.hash() { return false; }
+    a.eq(b);
+}
+
+sum_of_inline :: (a: $T/Summable, b: T) -> s32 {
+    a.sum() + b.sum();
+}
+
+// --- P7: generic struct impls ---
+
+Pair :: struct ($T: Type) {
+    a: T;
+    b: T;
+}
+
+impl Summable for Pair($T) {
+    sum :: (self: *Pair(T)) -> s32 {
+        xx self.a + xx self.b;
+    }
+}
+
+SumBox :: struct ($T: Type/Summable) {
+    val: T;
+}
+
+// ============================================================
+main :: () {
+
+    // === P1: static dispatch on concrete types ===
+
+    // P1.1: basic protocol + impl
+    {
+        sc := SimpleCounter.{ val = 0 };
+        sc.inc();
+        sc.inc();
+        sc.inc();
+        print("P1.1: {}\n", sc.get());
+    }
+
+    // P1.2: retroactive conformance (impl for existing type)
+    {
+        p := Point.{ x = 10, y = 20 };
+        print("P1.2: {}\n", p.sum());
+    }
+
+    // === P2: #inline protocol — dynamic dispatch ===
+
+    // P2.1: xx conversion + method dispatch
+    {
+        acc := Accumulator.{ total = 0 };
+        a : Adder = xx @acc;
+        a.add(10);
+        a.add(20);
+        a.add(12);
+        print("P2.1: {}\n", a.value());
+    }
+
+    // P2.2: pass inline protocol to function
+    {
+        use_adder :: (a: Adder, n: s32) -> s32 {
+            a.add(n);
+            a.value();
+        }
+        acc := Accumulator.{ total = 100 };
+        result := use_adder(xx @acc, 50);
+        print("P2.2: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
+    // P2.3: different impls through same protocol type
+    {
+        acc := Accumulator.{ total = 0 };
+        dbl := Doubler.{ val = 0 };
+        a1 : Adder = xx @acc;
+        a2 : Adder = xx @dbl;
+        a1.add(5);
+        a2.add(5);
+        print("P2.3: {} {}\n", a1.value(), a2.value());
+    }
+
+    // P2.6: protocol values in arrays
+    {
+        acc := Accumulator.{ total = 0 };
+        dbl := Doubler.{ val = 0 };
+        adders : [2]Adder = .[xx @acc, xx @dbl];
+        i := 0;
+        while i < 2 {
+            adders[i].add(5);
+            i += 1;
+        }
+        print("P2.6: {} {}\n", acc.total, dbl.val);
+    }
+
+    // P2.7: xx on inline struct literal (no intermediate variable)
+    {
+        use_adder :: (a: Adder) -> s32 { a.add(10); a.value(); }
+        result := use_adder(xx Accumulator.{ total = 5 });
+        print("P2.7: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
+    // === P3: vtable protocol (default, no #inline) ===
+
+    // P3.1: xx + vtable dispatch
+    {
+        sc := SimpleCounter.{ val = 0 };
+        c : Counter = xx @sc;
+        c.inc();
+        c.inc();
+        c.inc();
+        c.inc();
+        c.inc();
+        print("P3.1: {}\n", c.get());
+    }
+
+    // P3.2: vtable protocol passed to function
+    {
+        use_counter :: (c: Counter) -> s32 {
+            c.inc();
+            c.inc();
+            c.get();
+        }
+        sc := SimpleCounter.{ val = 10 };
+        result := use_counter(xx @sc);
+        print("P3.2: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
+    // P3.3: xx on inline struct literal with vtable protocol
+    {
+        use_counter :: (c: Counter) -> s32 { c.inc(); c.inc(); c.get(); }
+        result := use_counter(xx SimpleCounter.{ val = 100 });
+        print("P3.3: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
+    // === P4: default methods ===
+
+    // P4.1: default method via static dispatch
+    {
+        pr := Printer.{ count = 0 };
+        pr.say_twice("hi ");
+        print("\nP4.1: {}\n", pr.count);
+    }
+
+    // P4.2: default method via dynamic dispatch (vtable)
+    {
+        pr := Printer.{ count = 0 };
+        r : Repeater = xx @pr;
+        r.say_twice("yo ");
+        print("\nP4.2: {}\n", pr.count);
+    }
+
+    // P4.3: chained default→default calls via vtable
+    {
+        ci := ChainImpl.{ val = 0 };
+        ch : Chained = xx @ci;
+        result := ch.double_wrap("hi");
+        print("P4.3: {} {}\n", result, ci.val);
+    }
+
+    // === P5: Self type ===
+
+    // P5.1: Self in parameter position (static dispatch)
+    {
+        p1 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p2 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p3 := Point.{ x = 3, y = 4 };
+        print("P5.1: {} {}\n", p1.eq(p2), p1.eq(p3));
+    }
+
+    // P5.2: Self in return position
+    {
+        p := Point.{ x = 10, y = 20 };
+        p2 := p.clone();
+        print("P5.2: {} {}\n", p2.x, p2.y);
+    }
+
+    // P5.3: Self with dynamic dispatch (erased to *void)
+    {
+        p1 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p2 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p3 := Point.{ x = 3, y = 4 };
+        e : Eq = xx p1;
+        print("P5.3: {} {}\n", e.eq(p2), e.eq(p3));
+    }
+
+    // P5.5: impl for primitive type
+    {
+        x := 42;
+        y := 42;
+        z := 99;
+        print("P5.5: {} {}\n", x.eq(y), x.eq(z));
+    }
+
+    // === P6: generic constraints ===
+
+    // P6.1: single constraint
+    {
+        p1 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p2 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p3 := Point.{ x = 3, y = 4 };
+        print("P6.1: {} {}\n", are_equal(p1, p2), are_equal(p1, p3));
+    }
+
+    // P6.2: constraint with primitive type
+    {
+        print("P6.2: {} {}\n", are_equal(42, 42), are_equal(42, 99));
+    }
+
+    // P6.3: multiple constraints
+    {
+        p1 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p2 := Point.{ x = 1, y = 2 };
+        p3 := Point.{ x = 3, y = 4 };
+        print("P6.3: {} {}\n", eq_and_hash(p1, p2), eq_and_hash(p1, p3));
+    }
+
+    // P6.4: inline constraint syntax ($T/Protocol)
+    {
+        p1 := Point.{ x = 10, y = 20 };
+        p2 := Point.{ x = 3, y = 7 };
+        print("P6.4: {}\n", sum_of_inline(p1, p2));
+    }
+
+    // P6.5: struct type param constraints
+    {
+        box := SumBox(Point).{ val = Point.{ x = 5, y = 15 } };
+        print("P6.5: {}\n", box.val.sum());
+    }
+
+    // === P7: generic struct impls ===
+
+    // P7.1: impl for generic struct
+    {
+        p := Pair(s32).{ a = 10, b = 20 };
+        print("P7.1: {}\n", p.sum());
+    }
+
+    // P7.2: different type args
+    {
+        p1 := Pair(s32).{ a = 3, b = 7 };
+        p2 := Pair(s64).{ a = 100, b = 200 };
+        print("P7.2: {} {}\n", p1.sum(), p2.sum());
+    }
+
+    print("=== DONE ===\n");
+}
diff --git a/examples/50-smoke.sx b/examples/50-smoke.sx
index 3a84045..be68d48 100644
--- a/examples/50-smoke.sx
+++ b/examples/50-smoke.sx
@@ -2834,5 +2834,19 @@ END;
         print("P2.6: {} {}\n", acc.total, dbl.val);
     }
 
+    // P2.7: xx on inline struct literal (no intermediate variable)
+    {
+        use_adder :: (a: Adder) -> s32 { a.add(10); a.value(); }
+        result := use_adder(xx Accumulator.{ total = 5 });
+        print("P2.7: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
+    // P3.3: xx on inline struct literal with vtable protocol
+    {
+        use_counter :: (c: Counter) -> s32 { c.inc(); c.inc(); c.get(); }
+        result := use_counter(xx SimpleCounter.{ val = 100 });
+        print("P3.3: {}\n", result);
+    }
+
     print("=== DONE ===\n");
 }
diff --git a/src/codegen.zig b/src/codegen.zig
index aca9d17..002aa53 100644
--- a/src/codegen.zig
+++ b/src/codegen.zig
@@ -6078,8 +6078,16 @@ pub const CodeGen = struct {
         // xx prefix: unwrap and convert freely (explicit cast)
         if (node.data == .unary_op and node.data.unary_op.op == .xx) {
             const inner = node.data.unary_op.operand;
-            const val = try self.genExpr(inner);
+            var val = try self.genExpr(inner);
             const src_ty = self.inferType(inner);
+            // genExpr on struct literals returns an alloca (ptr), not a loaded value.
+            // Load it so convertValue/buildProtocolValue sees the actual struct value.
+            if (inner.data == .struct_literal and src_ty.isStruct()) {
+                const sname = self.resolveAlias(src_ty.struct_type);
+                if (self.lookupStructInfo(sname)) |si| {
+                    val = c.LLVMBuildLoad2(self.builder, si.llvm_type.?, val, "xx_struct_load");
+                }
+            }
             return self.convertValue(val, src_ty, target_ty);
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/expected/36-protocols.exit b/tests/expected/36-protocols.exit
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..573541a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/expected/36-protocols.exit
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0
diff --git a/tests/expected/36-protocols.txt b/tests/expected/36-protocols.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15e9c38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/expected/36-protocols.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+P1.1: 3
+P1.2: 30
+P2.1: 42
+P2.2: 150
+P2.3: 5 10
+P2.6: 5 10
+P2.7: 15
+P3.1: 5
+P3.2: 12
+P3.3: 102
+hi hi 
+P4.1: 2
+yo yo 
+P4.2: 2
+P4.3: 6 2
+P5.1: true false
+P5.2: 10 20
+P5.3: true false
+P5.5: true false
+P6.1: true false
+P6.2: true false
+P6.3: true false
+P6.4: 40
+P6.5: 20
+P7.1: 30
+P7.2: 10 300
+=== DONE ===