diff --git a/crates/oxide_compiler/src/counter.rs b/crates/oxide_compiler/src/counter.rs
index 6a91dbb..4f27592 100644
--- a/crates/oxide_compiler/src/counter.rs
+++ b/crates/oxide_compiler/src/counter.rs
@@ -440,6 +440,10 @@ impl Compiler {
             Expression::ParenthesizedExpression(p) => {
                 self.count_expression(&p.expression, ctx);
             }
+            Expression::ThisExpression(_) => {
+                ctx.alloc_reg();
+                ctx.projected_pc += 1; // LOAD_VAR from reg 254
+            }
             Expression::UpdateExpression(update) => match &update.argument {
                 SimpleAssignmentTarget::AssignmentTargetIdentifier(_) => {
                     ctx.alloc_reg();
diff --git a/crates/oxide_compiler/src/emitter.rs b/crates/oxide_compiler/src/emitter.rs
index 92844fd..38c2009 100644
--- a/crates/oxide_compiler/src/emitter.rs
+++ b/crates/oxide_compiler/src/emitter.rs
@@ -1036,6 +1036,11 @@ impl Compiler {
                 ctx.emit(opcode::encode(OpCode::LOAD_VAR, result_reg, 0, 0));
                 Ok(result_reg)
             }
+            Expression::ThisExpression(_) => {
+                let r = ctx.alloc_reg();
+                ctx.emit(opcode::encode(OpCode::LOAD_VAR, r, 254, 0));
+                Ok(r)
+            }
             _ => Err(format!("unsupported expression type: {:?}", expr)),
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/oxide_compiler/tests/compile_expr_tests.rs b/crates/oxide_compiler/tests/compile_expr_tests.rs
index c2611fb..cdd70d2 100644
--- a/crates/oxide_compiler/tests/compile_expr_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/oxide_compiler/tests/compile_expr_tests.rs
@@ -358,3 +358,21 @@ fn compile_compound_member_exp_ok() {
     });
     assert!(result.is_ok(), "obj.x**=2 should compile without error");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn compile_this_in_function_ok() {
+    let module = compile_source("function f() { return this; }");
+    assert!(!module.bytecode.is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn compile_this_member_assign_ok() {
+    let module = compile_source("function f() { this.x = 1; }");
+    assert!(!module.bytecode.is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn compile_this_member_read_ok() {
+    let module = compile_source("function f() { return this.x; }");
+    assert!(!module.bytecode.is_empty());
+}
diff --git a/crates/oxide_vm/tests/function_tests.rs b/crates/oxide_vm/tests/function_tests.rs
index 78ce240..4ba077a 100644
--- a/crates/oxide_vm/tests/function_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/oxide_vm/tests/function_tests.rs
@@ -148,3 +148,41 @@ fn fd_returns_new_array() {
     let result = eval(&mut vm, "function f() { return new Array(3); } f()").unwrap();
     assert!(result.is_object());
 }
+
+// --- this expression ---
+
+#[test]
+fn this_in_function_reads_value() {
+    let mut vm = Vm::new();
+    let result = eval(&mut vm, "function f() { return this; } f()").unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        result.is_object(),
+        "expected object (function as this), got: {:?}",
+        result
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn this_in_function_assign_member() {
+    let mut vm = Vm::new();
+    let result = eval(&mut vm, "function f(m) { this.message = m; } f('hello'); 1").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result.as_int(), 1);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn this_member_access() {
+    let mut vm = Vm::new();
+    let result = eval(&mut vm, "function f() { this.x = 42; return this.x; } f()").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result.as_int(), 42);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn this_in_constructor_sets_proto() {
+    let mut vm = Vm::new();
+    let result = eval(
+        &mut vm,
+        "function Ctor(m) { this.message = m; } Ctor.prototype = new Object(); 1",
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result.as_int(), 1);
+}