diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ast.rs b/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
index 241450e7130a..2b98803364c1 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ use core::option::{None, Option, Some};
 use core::to_bytes;
 use core::to_bytes::IterBytes;
 use core::to_str::ToStr;
+use core::hashmap::HashMap;
 use std::serialize::{Encodable, Decodable, Encoder, Decoder};
 
 
@@ -38,14 +39,20 @@ pub struct ident { repr: Name, ctxt: SyntaxContext }
 // that's causing unreleased memory to cause core dumps
 // and also perhaps to save some work in destructor checks.
 // the special uint '0' will be used to indicate an empty
-// syntax context
+// syntax context.
 
 // this uint is a reference to a table stored in thread-local
 // storage.
 pub type SyntaxContext = uint;
 
-pub type SCTable = ~[SyntaxContext_];
+pub struct SCTable {
+    table : ~[SyntaxContext_],
+    mark_memo : HashMap<(SyntaxContext,Mrk),SyntaxContext>,
+    rename_memo : HashMap<(SyntaxContext,ident,Name),SyntaxContext>
+}
+// NB: these must be placed in any SCTable...
 pub static empty_ctxt : uint = 0;
+pub static illegal_ctxt : uint = 1;
 
 #[deriving(Eq, Encodable, Decodable)]
 pub enum SyntaxContext_ {
@@ -59,7 +66,8 @@ pub enum SyntaxContext_ {
     // "to" slot must have the same name and context
     // in the "from" slot. In essence, they're all
     // pointers to a single "rename" event node.
-    Rename (ident,Name,SyntaxContext)
+    Rename (ident,Name,SyntaxContext),
+    IllegalCtxt()    
 }
 
 // a name represents an identifier
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs b/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
index bb6d13b28311..eaacb054ca1a 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use codemap::{span, spanned};
 use parse::token;
 use visit;
 use opt_vec;
+use core::hashmap::HashMap;
 
 use core::to_bytes;
 
@@ -577,22 +578,61 @@ pub enum Privacy {
 // HYGIENE FUNCTIONS
 
 /// Construct an identifier with the given repr and an empty context:
-pub fn mk_ident(repr: uint) -> ident { ident {repr: repr, ctxt: 0}}
+pub fn new_ident(repr: uint) -> ident { ident {repr: repr, ctxt: 0}}
 
 /// Extend a syntax context with a given mark
-pub fn mk_mark (m:Mrk,ctxt:SyntaxContext,table:&mut SCTable)
+pub fn new_mark (m:Mrk, tail:SyntaxContext,table:&mut SCTable)
     -> SyntaxContext {
-    idx_push(table,Mark(m,ctxt))
+    let key = (tail,m);
+    // FIXME #5074 : can't use more natural style because we're missing
+    // flow-sensitivity. Results in two lookups on a hash table hit.
+    // also applies to new_rename, below.
+    // let try_lookup = table.mark_memo.find(&key);
+    match table.mark_memo.contains_key(&key) {
+        false => {
+            let new_idx = idx_push(&mut table.table,Mark(m,tail));
+            table.mark_memo.insert(key,new_idx);
+            new_idx
+        }
+        true => {
+            match table.mark_memo.find(&key) {
+                None => fail!(~"internal error: key disappeared 2013042901"),
+                Some(idxptr) => {*idxptr}
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Extend a syntax context with a given rename
-pub fn mk_rename (id:ident, to:Name, tail:SyntaxContext, table: &mut SCTable)
+pub fn new_rename (id:ident, to:Name, tail:SyntaxContext, table: &mut SCTable)
     -> SyntaxContext {
-    idx_push(table,Rename(id,to,tail))
+    let key = (tail,id,to);
+    // FIXME #5074
+    //let try_lookup = table.rename_memo.find(&key);
+    match table.rename_memo.contains_key(&key) {
+        false => {
+            let new_idx = idx_push(&mut table.table,Rename(id,to,tail));
+            table.rename_memo.insert(key,new_idx);
+            new_idx
+        }
+        true => {
+            match table.rename_memo.find(&key) {
+                None => fail!(~"internal error: key disappeared 2013042902"),
+                Some(idxptr) => {*idxptr}
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Make a fresh syntax context table with EmptyCtxt in slot zero
-pub fn mk_sctable() -> SCTable { ~[EmptyCtxt] }
+/// and IllegalCtxt in slot one.
+pub fn new_sctable() -> SCTable {
+    SCTable {
+        table: ~[EmptyCtxt,IllegalCtxt],
+        mark_memo: HashMap::new(),
+        rename_memo: HashMap::new()
+    }
+}
 
 /// Add a value to the end of a vec, return its index
 fn idx_push<T>(vec: &mut ~[T], val: T) -> uint {
@@ -601,8 +641,8 @@ fn idx_push<T>(vec: &mut ~[T], val: T) -> uint {
 }
 
 /// Resolve a syntax object to a name, per MTWT.
-pub fn resolve (id : ident, table : &SCTable) -> Name {
-    match table[id.ctxt] {
+pub fn resolve (id : ident, table : &mut SCTable) -> Name {
+    match table.table[id.ctxt] {
         EmptyCtxt => id.repr,
         // ignore marks here:
         Mark(_,subctxt) => resolve (ident{repr:id.repr, ctxt: subctxt},table),
@@ -619,6 +659,7 @@ pub fn resolve (id : ident, table : &SCTable) -> Name {
                 resolvedthis
             }
         }
+        IllegalCtxt() => fail!(~"expected resolvable context, got IllegalCtxt")
     }
 }
 
@@ -629,7 +670,7 @@ pub fn marksof(ctxt: SyntaxContext, stopname: Name, table: &SCTable) -> ~[Mrk] {
     let mut result = ~[];
     let mut loopvar = ctxt;
     loop {
-        match table[loopvar] {
+        match table.table[loopvar] {
             EmptyCtxt => {return result;},
             Mark(mark,tl) => {
                 xorPush(&mut result,mark);
@@ -644,6 +685,7 @@ pub fn marksof(ctxt: SyntaxContext, stopname: Name, table: &SCTable) -> ~[Mrk] {
                     loopvar = tl;
                 }
             }
+            IllegalCtxt => fail!(~"expected resolvable context, got IllegalCtxt")
         }
     }
 }
@@ -713,15 +755,15 @@ mod test {
         -> SyntaxContext {
         tscs.foldr(tail, |tsc : &TestSC,tail : SyntaxContext|
                   {match *tsc {
-                      M(mrk) => mk_mark(mrk,tail,table),
-                      R(ident,name) => mk_rename(ident,name,tail,table)}})
+                      M(mrk) => new_mark(mrk,tail,table),
+                      R(ident,name) => new_rename(ident,name,tail,table)}})
     }
 
     // gather a SyntaxContext back into a vector of TestSCs
     fn refold_test_sc(mut sc: SyntaxContext, table : &SCTable) -> ~[TestSC] {
         let mut result = ~[];
         loop {
-            match table[sc] {
+            match table.table[sc] {
                 EmptyCtxt => {return result;},
                 Mark(mrk,tail) => {
                     result.push(M(mrk));
@@ -733,40 +775,41 @@ mod test {
                     sc = tail;
                     loop;
                 }
+                IllegalCtxt => fail!("expected resolvable context, got IllegalCtxt")
             }
         }
     }
 
     #[test] fn test_unfold_refold(){
-        let mut t = mk_sctable();
+        let mut t = new_sctable();
 
         let test_sc = ~[M(3),R(id(101,0),14),M(9)];
-        assert_eq!(unfold_test_sc(copy test_sc,empty_ctxt,&mut t),3);
-        assert_eq!(t[1],Mark(9,0));
-        assert_eq!(t[2],Rename(id(101,0),14,1));
-        assert_eq!(t[3],Mark(3,2));
-        assert_eq!(refold_test_sc(3,&t),test_sc);
+        assert_eq!(unfold_test_sc(copy test_sc,empty_ctxt,&mut t),4);
+        assert_eq!(t.table[2],Mark(9,0));
+        assert_eq!(t.table[3],Rename(id(101,0),14,2));
+        assert_eq!(t.table[4],Mark(3,3));
+        assert_eq!(refold_test_sc(4,&t),test_sc);
     }
 
     // extend a syntax context with a sequence of marks given
     // in a vector. v[0] will be the outermost mark.
     fn unfold_marks(mrks:~[Mrk],tail:SyntaxContext,table: &mut SCTable) -> SyntaxContext {
         mrks.foldr(tail, |mrk:&Mrk,tail:SyntaxContext|
-                   {mk_mark(*mrk,tail,table)})
+                   {new_mark(*mrk,tail,table)})
     }
 
     #[test] fn unfold_marks_test() {
-        let mut t = ~[EmptyCtxt];
+        let mut t = new_sctable();
 
-        assert_eq!(unfold_marks(~[3,7],empty_ctxt,&mut t),2);
-        assert_eq!(t[1],Mark(7,0));
-        assert_eq!(t[2],Mark(3,1));
+        assert_eq!(unfold_marks(~[3,7],empty_ctxt,&mut t),3);
+        assert_eq!(t.table[2],Mark(7,0));
+        assert_eq!(t.table[3],Mark(3,2));
     }
 
     #[test] fn test_marksof () {
         let stopname = 242;
         let name1 = 243;
-        let mut t = mk_sctable();
+        let mut t = new_sctable();
         assert_eq!(marksof (empty_ctxt,stopname,&t),~[]);
         // FIXME #5074: ANF'd to dodge nested calls
         { let ans = unfold_marks(~[4,98],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
@@ -780,13 +823,13 @@ mod test {
         // rename where stop doesn't match:
         { let chain = ~[M(9),
                         R(id(name1,
-                             mk_mark (4, empty_ctxt,&mut t)),
+                             new_mark (4, empty_ctxt,&mut t)),
                           100101102),
                         M(14)];
          let ans = unfold_test_sc(chain,empty_ctxt,&mut t);
          assert_eq! (marksof (ans, stopname, &t), ~[9,14]);}
         // rename where stop does match
-        { let name1sc = mk_mark(4, empty_ctxt, &mut t);
+        { let name1sc = new_mark(4, empty_ctxt, &mut t);
          let chain = ~[M(9),
                        R(id(name1, name1sc),
                          stopname),
@@ -798,30 +841,30 @@ mod test {
 
     #[test] fn resolve_tests () {
         let a = 40;
-        let mut t = mk_sctable();
+        let mut t = new_sctable();
         // - ctxt is MT
-        assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,empty_ctxt),&t),a);
+        assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,empty_ctxt),&mut t),a);
         // - simple ignored marks
         { let sc = unfold_marks(~[1,2,3],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t),a);}
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t),a);}
         // - orthogonal rename where names don't match
         { let sc = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(50,empty_ctxt),51),M(12)],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t),a);}
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t),a);}
         // - rename where names do match, but marks don't
-        { let sc1 = mk_mark(1,empty_ctxt,&mut t);
+        { let sc1 = new_mark(1,empty_ctxt,&mut t);
          let sc = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(a,sc1),50),
                                    M(1),
                                    M(2)],
                                  empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-        assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t), a);}
+        assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t), a);}
         // - rename where names and marks match
         { let sc1 = unfold_test_sc(~[M(1),M(2)],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
          let sc = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(a,sc1),50),M(1),M(2)],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t), 50); }
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t), 50); }
         // - rename where names and marks match by literal sharing
         { let sc1 = unfold_test_sc(~[M(1),M(2)],empty_ctxt,&mut t);
          let sc = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(a,sc1),50)],sc1,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t), 50); }
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t), 50); }
         // - two renames of the same var.. can only happen if you use
         // local-expand to prevent the inner binding from being renamed
         // during the rename-pass caused by the first:
@@ -829,20 +872,29 @@ mod test {
         { let sc = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(a,empty_ctxt),50),
                                     R(id(a,empty_ctxt),51)],
                                   empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t), 51); }
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t), 51); }
         // the simplest double-rename:
-        { let a_to_a50 = mk_rename(id(a,empty_ctxt),50,empty_ctxt,&mut t);
-         let a50_to_a51 = mk_rename(id(a,a_to_a50),51,a_to_a50,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,a50_to_a51),&t),51);
+        { let a_to_a50 = new_rename(id(a,empty_ctxt),50,empty_ctxt,&mut t);
+         let a50_to_a51 = new_rename(id(a,a_to_a50),51,a_to_a50,&mut t);
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,a50_to_a51),&mut t),51);
          // mark on the outside doesn't stop rename:
-         let sc = mk_mark(9,a50_to_a51,&mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&t),51);
+         let sc = new_mark(9,a50_to_a51,&mut t);
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,sc),&mut t),51);
          // but mark on the inside does:
          let a50_to_a51_b = unfold_test_sc(~[R(id(a,a_to_a50),51),
                                               M(9)],
                                            a_to_a50,
                                            &mut t);
-         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,a50_to_a51_b),&t),50);}
+         assert_eq!(resolve(id(a,a50_to_a51_b),&mut t),50);}
+    }
+
+    #[test] fn hashing_tests () {
+        let mut t = new_sctable();
+        assert_eq!(new_mark(12,empty_ctxt,&mut t),2);
+        assert_eq!(new_mark(13,empty_ctxt,&mut t),3);
+        // using the same one again should result in the same index:
+        assert_eq!(new_mark(12,empty_ctxt,&mut t),2);
+        // I'm assuming that the rename table will behave the same....
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
index f9ca84473fb3..7a323b364706 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@
 use ast::{blk_, attribute_, attr_outer, meta_word};
 use ast::{crate, expr_, expr_mac, mac_invoc_tt};
 use ast::{item_mac, stmt_, stmt_mac, stmt_expr, stmt_semi};
+use ast::{SCTable, illegal_ctxt};
 use ast;
+use ast_util::{new_rename, new_mark, resolve};
 use attr;
 use codemap;
 use codemap::{span, CallInfo, ExpandedFrom, NameAndSpan, spanned};
@@ -635,62 +637,65 @@ pub fn expand_crate(parse_sess: @mut parse::ParseSess,
     @f.fold_crate(&*c)
 }
 
-// given a function from paths to paths, produce
+// given a function from idents to idents, produce
 // an ast_fold that applies that function:
-fn fun_to_path_folder(f: @fn(&ast::Path)->ast::Path) -> @ast_fold{
+pub fn fun_to_ident_folder(f: @fn(ast::ident)->ast::ident) -> @ast_fold{
     let afp = default_ast_fold();
     let f_pre = @AstFoldFns{
-        fold_path : |p, _| f(p),
+        fold_ident : |id, _| f(id),
         .. *afp
     };
     make_fold(f_pre)
 }
-/* going to have to figure out whether the table is passed in or
-extracted from TLS...
+
 // update the ctxts in a path to get a rename node
-fn ctxt_update_rename(from: ast::Name,
-                       fromctx: ast::SyntaxContext, to: ast::Name) ->
-    @fn(&ast::Path,@ast_fold)->ast::Path {
-    return |p:&ast::Path,_|
-    ast::Path {span: p.span,
-               global: p.global,
-               idents: p.idents.map(|id|
-                                    ast::ident{
-                                        repr: id.repr,
-                                        // this needs to be cached....
-                                        ctxt: Some(@ast::Rename(from,fromctx,
-                                                           to,id.ctxt))
-                                    }),
-               rp: p.rp,
-               types: p.types};
+pub fn new_ident_renamer(from: ast::ident,
+                      to: ast::Name,
+                      table: @mut SCTable) ->
+    @fn(ast::ident)->ast::ident {
+    |id : ast::ident|
+    ast::ident{
+        repr: id.repr,
+        ctxt: new_rename(from,to,id.ctxt,table)
+    }
 }
 
+
 // update the ctxts in a path to get a mark node
-fn ctxt_update_mark(mark: uint) ->
-    @fn(&ast::Path,@ast_fold)->ast::Path {
-    return |p:&ast::Path,_|
-    ast::Path {span: p.span,
-               global: p.global,
-               idents: p.idents.map(|id|
-                                    ast::ident{
-                                        repr: id.repr,
-                                        // this needs to be cached....
-                                        ctxt: Some(@ast::Mark(mark,id.ctxt))
-                                    }),
-               rp: p.rp,
-               types: p.types};
+pub fn new_ident_marker(mark: uint,
+                        table: @mut SCTable) ->
+    @fn(ast::ident)->ast::ident {
+    |id : ast::ident|
+    ast::ident{
+        repr: id.repr,
+        ctxt: new_mark(mark,id.ctxt,table)
+    }
 }
-*/
+
+// perform resolution (in the MTWT sense) on all of the
+// idents in the tree. This is the final step in expansion.
+pub fn new_ident_resolver(table: @mut SCTable) ->
+    @fn(ast::ident)->ast::ident {
+    |id : ast::ident|
+    ast::ident {
+        repr : resolve(id,table),
+        ctxt : illegal_ctxt
+    }
+}
+
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
     use ast;
-    use ast::{attribute_, attr_outer, meta_word};
+    use ast::{attribute_, attr_outer, meta_word, empty_ctxt};
+    use ast_util::{new_sctable};
     use codemap;
     use codemap::spanned;
     use parse;
+    use core::io;
     use core::option::{None, Some};
+    use util::parser_testing::{string_to_item_and_sess};
 
     // make sure that fail! is present
     #[test] fn fail_exists_test () {
@@ -792,4 +797,22 @@ mod test {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn renaming () {
+        let (maybe_item_ast,sess) = string_to_item_and_sess(@~"fn a() -> int { let b = 13; b} ");
+        let item_ast = match maybe_item_ast {
+            Some(x) => x,
+            None => fail!("test case fail")
+        };
+        let table = @mut new_sctable();
+        let a_name = 100; // enforced by testing_interner
+        let a2_name = sess.interner.gensym(@~"a2").repr;
+        let renamer = new_ident_renamer(ast::ident{repr:a_name,ctxt:empty_ctxt},
+                                        a2_name,table);
+        let renamed_ast = fun_to_ident_folder(renamer).fold_item(item_ast).get();
+        let resolver = new_ident_resolver(table);
+        let resolved_ast = fun_to_ident_folder(resolver).fold_item(renamed_ast).get();
+        io::print(fmt!("ast: %?\n",resolved_ast))
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
index 7aff9f6745cb..0a9e16f8f7cf 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
@@ -346,21 +346,16 @@ mod test {
     use std::serialize::Encodable;
     use std;
     use core::io;
-    use core::option::Option;
     use core::option::Some;
     use core::option::None;
-    use core::int;
-    use core::num::NumCast;
-    use codemap::{CodeMap, span, BytePos, spanned};
+    use codemap::{span, BytePos, spanned};
     use opt_vec;
     use ast;
     use abi;
-    use ast_util::mk_ident;
+    use ast_util::new_ident;
     use parse::parser::Parser;
-    use parse::token::{ident_interner, mk_ident_interner, mk_fresh_ident_interner};
-    use diagnostic::{span_handler, mk_span_handler, mk_handler, Emitter};
     use util::parser_testing::{string_to_tts_and_sess,string_to_parser};
-    use util::parser_testing::{string_to_crate, string_to_expr, string_to_item};
+    use util::parser_testing::{string_to_expr, string_to_item};
     use util::parser_testing::{string_to_stmt};
 
     // map a string to tts, return the tt without its parsesess
@@ -384,7 +379,7 @@ mod test {
 
     // convert a vector of uints to a vector of ast::idents
     fn ints_to_idents(ids: ~[uint]) -> ~[ast::ident] {
-        ids.map(|u| mk_ident(*u))
+        ids.map(|u| new_ident(*u))
     }
 
     #[test] fn path_exprs_1 () {
@@ -393,7 +388,7 @@ mod test {
                               callee_id:2,
                               node:ast::expr_path(@ast::Path {span:sp(0,1),
                                                               global:false,
-                                                              idents:~[mk_ident(100)],
+                                                              idents:~[new_ident(100)],
                                                               rp:None,
                                                               types:~[]}),
                               span:sp(0,1)})
@@ -456,7 +451,7 @@ mod test {
                                                   node:ast::expr_path(
                                                       @ast::Path{span:sp(7,8),
                                                                  global:false,
-                                                                 idents:~[mk_ident(103)],
+                                                                 idents:~[new_ident(103)],
                                                                  rp:None,
                                                                  types:~[]
                                                                 }),
@@ -474,7 +469,7 @@ mod test {
                                @ast::Path{
                                    span:sp(0,1),
                                    global:false,
-                                   idents:~[mk_ident(101)],
+                                   idents:~[new_ident(101)],
                                    rp:None,
                                    types: ~[]}),
                            span: sp(0,1)},
@@ -495,7 +490,7 @@ mod test {
                                                   @ast::Path{
                                                       span:sp(0,1),
                                                       global:false,
-                                                      idents:~[mk_ident(101)],
+                                                      idents:~[new_ident(101)],
                                                       rp: None,
                                                       types: ~[]},
                                                   None // no idea
@@ -514,7 +509,7 @@ mod test {
                                         span:sp(4,4), // this is bizarre...
                                         // check this in the original parser?
                                         global:false,
-                                        idents:~[mk_ident(105)],
+                                        idents:~[new_ident(105)],
                                         rp: None,
                                         types: ~[]},
                                                        2),
@@ -524,7 +519,7 @@ mod test {
                                                            @ast::Path{
                                                                span:sp(0,1),
                                                                global:false,
-                                                               idents:~[mk_ident(101)],
+                                                               idents:~[new_ident(101)],
                                                                rp: None,
                                                                types: ~[]},
                                                            None // no idea
@@ -540,7 +535,7 @@ mod test {
         // assignment order of the node_ids.
         assert_eq!(string_to_item(@~"fn a (b : int) { b; }"),
                   Some(
-                      @ast::item{ident:mk_ident(100),
+                      @ast::item{ident:new_ident(100),
                             attrs:~[],
                             id: 10, // fixme
                             node: ast::item_fn(ast::fn_decl{
@@ -550,7 +545,7 @@ mod test {
                                                 node: ast::ty_path(@ast::Path{
                                         span:sp(10,13),
                                         global:false,
-                                        idents:~[mk_ident(106)],
+                                        idents:~[new_ident(106)],
                                         rp: None,
                                         types: ~[]},
                                                        2),
@@ -561,7 +556,7 @@ mod test {
                                                        @ast::Path{
                                                            span:sp(6,7),
                                                            global:false,
-                                                           idents:~[mk_ident(101)],
+                                                           idents:~[new_ident(101)],
                                                            rp: None,
                                                            types: ~[]},
                                                        None // no idea
@@ -592,7 +587,7 @@ mod test {
                                                         @ast::Path{
                                                             span:sp(17,18),
                                                             global:false,
-                                                            idents:~[mk_ident(101)],
+                                                            idents:~[new_ident(101)],
                                                             rp:None,
                                                             types: ~[]}),
                                                     span: sp(17,18)},
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/util/parser_testing.rs b/src/libsyntax/util/parser_testing.rs
index 9ab77803576e..12c28f096f68 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/util/parser_testing.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/util/parser_testing.rs
@@ -8,22 +8,16 @@
 // option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 // except according to those terms.
 
-use std::serialize::Encodable;
-use std;
-use core::io;
 use core::option::{Option,None};
 use core::int;
 use core::num::NumCast;
-use codemap::{dummy_sp, CodeMap, BytePos, spanned};
-use opt_vec;
+use codemap::CodeMap;
 use ast;
-use abi;
-use ast_util::mk_ident;
 use parse::parser::Parser;
-use parse::token::{ident_interner, mk_ident_interner, mk_fresh_ident_interner};
-use diagnostic::{span_handler, mk_span_handler, mk_handler, Emitter};
+use parse::token::{ident_interner, mk_fresh_ident_interner};
+use diagnostic::{mk_handler, mk_span_handler};
 
-use syntax::parse::{ParseSess,new_parse_sess,string_to_filemap,filemap_to_tts};
+use syntax::parse::{ParseSess,string_to_filemap,filemap_to_tts};
 use syntax::parse::{new_parser_from_source_str};
 
 // add known names to interner for testing
@@ -71,10 +65,15 @@ pub fn string_to_tts_and_sess (source_str : @~str) -> (~[ast::token_tree],@mut P
     (filemap_to_tts(ps,string_to_filemap(ps,source_str,~"bogofile")),ps)
 }
 
+pub fn string_to_parser_and_sess(source_str: @~str) -> (Parser,@mut ParseSess) {
+    let ps = mk_testing_parse_sess();
+    (new_parser_from_source_str(ps,~[],~"bogofile",source_str),ps)
+}
+
 // map string to parser (via tts)
 pub fn string_to_parser(source_str: @~str) -> Parser {
-    let ps = mk_testing_parse_sess();
-    new_parser_from_source_str(ps,~[],~"bogofile",source_str)
+    let (p,_) = string_to_parser_and_sess(source_str);
+    p
 }
 
 pub fn string_to_crate (source_str : @~str) -> @ast::crate {
@@ -86,10 +85,17 @@ pub fn string_to_expr (source_str : @~str) -> @ast::expr {
     string_to_parser(source_str).parse_expr()
 }
 
+// parse a string, return an item
 pub fn string_to_item (source_str : @~str) -> Option<@ast::item> {
     string_to_parser(source_str).parse_item(~[])
 }
 
+// parse a string, return an item and the ParseSess
+pub fn string_to_item_and_sess (source_str : @~str) -> (Option<@ast::item>,@mut ParseSess) {
+    let (p,ps) = string_to_parser_and_sess(source_str);
+    (p.parse_item(~[]),ps)
+}
+
 pub fn string_to_stmt (source_str : @~str) -> @ast::stmt {
     string_to_parser(source_str).parse_stmt(~[])
 }