diff --git a/src/ir/lower.test.zig b/src/ir/lower.test.zig
index cf8f1fd..a09c264 100644
--- a/src/ir/lower.test.zig
+++ b/src/ir/lower.test.zig
@@ -710,3 +710,61 @@ test "E1.4b converge inferred error sets: empty -> warning, raising -> converged
     try std.testing.expect(stub_warned);
     try std.testing.expect(!raiser_warned);
 }
+
+test "E1.4c noreturn typing: divergence shapes + if-else unification + block propagation" {
+    const alloc = std.testing.allocator;
+    var module = ir_mod.Module.init(alloc);
+    defer module.deinit();
+    var lowering = Lowering.init(&module);
+
+    const mk = struct {
+        fn node(a: std.mem.Allocator, data: ast.Node.Data) *Node {
+            const n = a.create(Node) catch unreachable;
+            n.* = .{ .span = .{ .start = 0, .end = 0 }, .data = data };
+            return n;
+        }
+    };
+
+    // return; / break; / continue; / raise error.X  → noreturn
+    const ret = mk.node(alloc, .{ .return_stmt = .{ .value = null } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(ret);
+    const brk = mk.node(alloc, .{ .break_expr = {} });
+    defer alloc.destroy(brk);
+    const cont = mk.node(alloc, .{ .continue_expr = {} });
+    defer alloc.destroy(cont);
+    const err_id = mk.node(alloc, .{ .identifier = .{ .name = "error" } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(err_id);
+    const fa = mk.node(alloc, .{ .field_access = .{ .object = err_id, .field = "X" } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(fa);
+    const raise = mk.node(alloc, .{ .raise_stmt = .{ .tag = fa } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(raise);
+
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(ret));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(brk));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(cont));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(raise));
+
+    // Block whose last statement diverges → noreturn.
+    const five = mk.node(alloc, .{ .int_literal = .{ .value = 5 } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(five);
+    const blk_stmts: []const *Node = &.{ five, ret };
+    const blk = mk.node(alloc, .{ .block = .{ .stmts = blk_stmts } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(blk);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(blk));
+
+    // if-else with one diverging branch unifies to the other branch's type;
+    // both diverging → noreturn.
+    const lit = mk.node(alloc, .{ .int_literal = .{ .value = 1 } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(lit);
+    const then_div = mk.node(alloc, .{ .if_expr = .{ .condition = lit, .then_branch = ret, .else_branch = lit, .is_inline = false } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(then_div);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.s64, lowering.inferExprType(then_div)); // then diverges → else (s64)
+
+    const else_div = mk.node(alloc, .{ .if_expr = .{ .condition = lit, .then_branch = lit, .else_branch = ret, .is_inline = false } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(else_div);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.s64, lowering.inferExprType(else_div)); // then is s64
+
+    const both_div = mk.node(alloc, .{ .if_expr = .{ .condition = lit, .then_branch = ret, .else_branch = brk, .is_inline = false } });
+    defer alloc.destroy(both_div);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(TypeId.noreturn, lowering.inferExprType(both_div));
+}
diff --git a/src/ir/lower.zig b/src/ir/lower.zig
index 2823a75..b90d6ac 100644
--- a/src/ir/lower.zig
+++ b/src/ir/lower.zig
@@ -13532,7 +13532,7 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
     // ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     /// Infer the type of an expression from its AST node (used for untyped var decls).
-    fn inferExprType(self: *Lowering, node: *const Node) TypeId {
+    pub fn inferExprType(self: *Lowering, node: *const Node) TypeId {
         return switch (node.data) {
             .string_literal => .string,
             .int_literal => .s64,
@@ -13566,14 +13566,25 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
                 break :blk op_ty;
             },
             .if_expr => |ie| {
-                // If-else: infer from then branch
-                if (ie.else_branch != null) {
-                    return self.inferExprType(ie.then_branch);
+                // If-else types as its branches' unified type. A `noreturn`
+                // branch (one that diverges — `return` / `raise` / `break` /
+                // `continue`) unifies away, so the expression takes the other
+                // branch's type; both diverging → `noreturn` (ERR E1.4c).
+                if (ie.else_branch) |eb| {
+                    const then_ty = self.inferExprType(ie.then_branch);
+                    if (then_ty == .noreturn) return self.inferExprType(eb);
+                    return then_ty;
                 }
                 return .void;
             },
+            // Divergence shapes type as `noreturn` — they transfer control and
+            // produce no value at their site. A block whose last statement is
+            // one of these propagates `noreturn` (block arm below), which lets
+            // a `catch` body that ends in `return` / `raise` unify with the
+            // success type (ERR E1.4c / E1.5).
+            .return_stmt, .raise_stmt, .break_expr, .continue_expr => .noreturn,
             .block => |blk| {
-                // Block type is the type of the last expression
+                // Block type is the type of the last expression / statement.
                 if (blk.stmts.len > 0) {
                     return self.inferExprType(blk.stmts[blk.stmts.len - 1]);
                 }
@@ -13976,8 +13987,9 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
                 }
                 break :blk self.inferExprType(nc.rhs);
             },
-            // Statements don't produce values
-            .assignment, .var_decl, .const_decl, .fn_decl, .return_stmt,
+            // Statements don't produce values (`.return_stmt` is handled above
+            // as `.noreturn` — it diverges rather than yielding `void`).
+            .assignment, .var_decl, .const_decl, .fn_decl,
             .defer_stmt, .push_stmt, .multi_assign, .destructure_decl,
             => .void,
             else => .unresolved,