diff --git a/src/ir/lower.zig b/src/ir/lower.zig
index 780ba4d..9ff828a 100644
--- a/src/ir/lower.zig
+++ b/src/ir/lower.zig
@@ -8066,6 +8066,27 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
         return self.builder.constInt(0, .void);
     }
 
+    /// Infer the return type of a pack-fn body for the generic-`$R`
+    /// case. Walks the body looking for the first concrete return
+    /// type: a `return X;` statement's value type, or — failing that —
+    /// the tail expression of an arrow-form body. Caller must have
+    /// `pack_arg_nodes` installed so `args[<lit>]` substitutes during
+    /// inference. Falls back to `.s64` if nothing concrete is found
+    /// (matches the broader "default to .s64" convention elsewhere).
+    fn inferPackBodyReturnType(self: *Lowering, body: *const Node) TypeId {
+        // First try explicit `return X;` — walks past structured
+        // control flow but stops at nested fn / lambda bodies.
+        if (self.findReturnValueType(body)) |ty| return ty;
+        // Arrow-form / tail-expression body: the body IS the value.
+        // For block bodies whose last stmt is an expression, walk down.
+        if (body.data == .block) {
+            const stmts = body.data.block.stmts;
+            if (stmts.len == 0) return .void;
+            return self.inferExprType(stmts[stmts.len - 1]);
+        }
+        return self.inferExprType(body);
+    }
+
     /// Per-call-shape monomorphisation entry for pack-fns
     /// (`isPackFn(fd) == true`). Computes a mangled name from the
     /// call-site arg types, builds the mono if it's not cached, and
@@ -8169,13 +8190,12 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
             self.builder.inst_counter = saved_counter;
         }
 
-        const ret_ty = self.resolveReturnType(fd);
-        self.target_type = ret_ty;
-
         const wants_ctx = self.funcWantsImplicitCtx(fd);
 
         // Synthesise pack-param names + AST ident nodes used to bind
-        // `args[<lit>]` substitutions during body lowering.
+        // `args[<lit>]` substitutions during body lowering. Built
+        // BEFORE return-type resolution so the generic-`$R` path can
+        // pre-install the binding for type inference.
         var pack_synth_names = std.ArrayList([]const u8).empty;
         defer pack_synth_names.deinit(self.alloc);
         var pack_arg_idents = std.ArrayList(*const Node).empty;
@@ -8191,6 +8211,32 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
             pack_arg_idents.append(self.alloc, ident_node) catch return;
         }
 
+        // Resolve return type. When the declared type is a generic
+        // name (e.g. `(..$args) -> $R`), `resolveReturnType` would
+        // return an opaque struct TypeId and the mono's signature
+        // would be wrong. Pre-install the pack bindings + infer the
+        // ret type from the body's tail expression / first explicit
+        // `return X;` instead.
+        var pre_pan = std.StringHashMap([]const *const Node).init(self.alloc);
+        defer pre_pan.deinit();
+        pre_pan.put(pack_name, pack_arg_idents.items) catch return;
+        var pre_ppc = std.StringHashMap(u32).init(self.alloc);
+        defer pre_ppc.deinit();
+        pre_ppc.put(pack_name, @intCast(arg_types.len)) catch return;
+        self.pack_arg_nodes = pre_pan;
+        self.pack_param_count = pre_ppc;
+
+        const declared_is_generic_ret = blk: {
+            const rt = fd.return_type orelse break :blk false;
+            if (rt.data != .type_expr) break :blk false;
+            break :blk rt.data.type_expr.is_generic;
+        };
+        const ret_ty: TypeId = if (declared_is_generic_ret)
+            self.inferPackBodyReturnType(fd.body)
+        else
+            self.resolveReturnType(fd);
+        self.target_type = ret_ty;
+
         // Param list: ctx (if needed) + fixed prefix + N pack params.
         // NOT deinit'd — `params.items` is stored by reference in
         // `Function.init` and read back later via `func.params`.
@@ -8248,16 +8294,8 @@ pub const Lowering = struct {
             param_idx += 1;
         }
 
-        // Install pack bindings for the body lowering.
-        var pan_map = std.StringHashMap([]const *const Node).init(self.alloc);
-        defer pan_map.deinit();
-        pan_map.put(pack_name, pack_arg_idents.items) catch return;
-        self.pack_arg_nodes = pan_map;
-
-        var ppc_map = std.StringHashMap(u32).init(self.alloc);
-        defer ppc_map.deinit();
-        ppc_map.put(pack_name, @intCast(arg_types.len)) catch return;
-        self.pack_param_count = ppc_map;
+        // Pack bindings remain installed from the pre-resolution
+        // (generic-`$R`) inference step above. No need to reinstall.
 
         if (ret_ty != .void) {
             const body_val = self.lowerBlockValue(fd.body);
diff --git a/tests/expected/159-pack-generic-ret.txt b/tests/expected/159-pack-generic-ret.txt
index b748e2d..efc7c1a 100644
--- a/tests/expected/159-pack-generic-ret.txt
+++ b/tests/expected/159-pack-generic-ret.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0 0
+42 99