diff --git a/lib/loader/index.js b/lib/loader/index.js
index 8ed61bd0bb..076273abde 100644
--- a/lib/loader/index.js
+++ b/lib/loader/index.js
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ function preInstantiate(imports) {
     const memory = baseModule.memory || env.memory;
     console.log("trace: " + getString(memory, mesg) + (n ? " " : "") + Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 2, 2 + n).join(", "));
   }
+  const ref = (imports.ref = imports.ref || {});
+  ref.null = null;
+  ref.is_null = function(v) { return v == null; }
+  ref.eq = function(a, b) { return a === b; }
   imports.Math = imports.Math || Math;
   imports.Date = imports.Date || Date;
 
diff --git a/src/builtins.ts b/src/builtins.ts
index 0290b16c6c..d8bb07ac21 100644
--- a/src/builtins.ts
+++ b/src/builtins.ts
@@ -572,6 +572,11 @@ export namespace BuiltinSymbols {
   export const Float32Array = "~lib/typedarray/Float32Array";
   export const Float64Array = "~lib/typedarray/Float64Array";
 
+  // std/reference.ts
+  export const ref_null = "~lib/reference/ref.null";
+  export const ref_is_null = "~lib/reference/ref.is_null";
+  export const ref_eq = "~lib/reference/ref.eq";
+
   // compiler generated
   export const started = "~lib/started";
   export const argc = "~lib/argc";
diff --git a/src/compiler.ts b/src/compiler.ts
index 863c5ca940..0ba11288b3 100644
--- a/src/compiler.ts
+++ b/src/compiler.ts
@@ -2681,7 +2681,7 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
             }
           }
         } else {
-          if (isManaged) {
+          if (type.is(TypeFlags.REFERENCE)) {
             // This is necessary because the first use (and assign) of the local could be taking place
             // in a loop, subsequently marking it retained, but the second iteration of the loop
             // still wouldn't release whatever is assigned in the first. Likewise, if the variable wasn't
@@ -2692,7 +2692,9 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
                 this.makeZero(type)
               )
             );
-            flow.setLocalFlag(local.index, LocalFlags.CONDITIONALLY_RETAINED);
+            if (isManaged) {
+              flow.setLocalFlag(local.index, LocalFlags.CONDITIONALLY_RETAINED);
+            }
           } else if (local.type.is(TypeFlags.SHORT | TypeFlags.INTEGER)) {
             flow.setLocalFlag(local.index, LocalFlags.WRAPPED);
           }
@@ -3739,12 +3741,9 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
             break;
           }
           case TypeKind.ANYREF: {
-            // TODO: ref.eq
-            this.error(
-              DiagnosticCode.Not_implemented,
-              expression.range
-            );
-            expr = module.unreachable();
+            let ref_eq = assert(this.program.refEqInstance);
+            assert(this.compileFunction(ref_eq));
+            expr = module.call(ref_eq.internalName, [ leftExpr, rightExpr], NativeType.I32);
             break;
           }
           default: {
@@ -3836,12 +3835,11 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
             break;
           }
           case TypeKind.ANYREF: {
-            // TODO: !ref.eq
-            this.error(
-              DiagnosticCode.Not_implemented,
-              expression.range
+            let ref_eq = assert(this.program.refEqInstance);
+            assert(this.compileFunction(ref_eq));
+            expr = module.unary(UnaryOp.EqzI32,
+              module.call(ref_eq.internalName, [ leftExpr, rightExpr], NativeType.I32)
             );
-            expr = module.unreachable();
             break;
           }
           default: {
@@ -7168,7 +7166,7 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
             this.currentType = signatureReference.type.asNullable();
             return module.i32(0);
           }
-          // TODO: anyref context yields <usize>0
+          return this.makeZero(contextualType); // anyref
         }
         this.currentType = options.usizeType;
         return options.isWasm64
@@ -8971,6 +8969,11 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
       case TypeKind.F32: return module.f32(0);
       case TypeKind.F64: return module.f64(0);
       case TypeKind.V128: return module.v128(v128_zero);
+      case TypeKind.ANYREF: {
+        let ref_null = assert(this.program.refNull);
+        assert(this.compileGlobal(ref_null));
+        return module.global_get(ref_null.internalName, NativeType.Anyref);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -9069,9 +9072,13 @@ export class Compiler extends DiagnosticEmitter {
         flow.freeTempLocal(temp);
         return ret;
       }
-      // case TypeKind.ANYREF: {
-      //   TODO: !ref.is_null
-      // }
+      case TypeKind.ANYREF: {
+        let ref_is_null = assert(this.program.refIsNullInstance);
+        assert(this.compileFunction(ref_is_null));
+        return module.unary(UnaryOp.EqzI32,
+          module.call(ref_is_null.internalName, [ expr ], NativeType.I32)
+        );
+      }
       default: {
         assert(false);
         return module.i32(0);
diff --git a/src/program.ts b/src/program.ts
index fdda734d7f..6ccde6523b 100644
--- a/src/program.ts
+++ b/src/program.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ import {
   Flow
 } from "./flow";
 
+import {
+  BuiltinSymbols
+} from "./builtins";
+
 /** Represents a yet unresolved `import`. */
 class QueuedImport {
   constructor(
@@ -465,6 +469,13 @@ export class Program extends DiagnosticEmitter {
   /** RT `__allocArray(length: i32, alignLog2: usize, id: u32, data: usize = 0): usize` */
   allocArrayInstance: Function;
 
+  /** Temporary filler for the `ref.null` instruction. */
+  refNull: Global | null = null;
+  /** Temporary filler for the `ref.is_null` instruction. */
+  refIsNullInstance: Function | null = null;
+  /** Temporary filler for the `ref.eq` instruction. */
+  refEqInstance: Function | null = null;
+
   /** Next class id. */
   nextClassId: u32 = 0;
   /** Next signature id. */
@@ -966,6 +977,11 @@ export class Program extends DiagnosticEmitter {
     this.instanceofInstance = this.requireFunction(CommonSymbols.instanceof_);
     this.visitInstance = this.requireFunction(CommonSymbols.visit);
     this.allocArrayInstance = this.requireFunction(CommonSymbols.allocArray);
+    if (options.hasFeature(Feature.REFERENCE_TYPES)) {
+      this.refNull = <Global>this.require(BuiltinSymbols.ref_null, ElementKind.GLOBAL);
+      this.refIsNullInstance = this.requireFunction(BuiltinSymbols.ref_is_null);
+      this.refEqInstance = this.requireFunction(BuiltinSymbols.ref_eq);
+    }
 
     // mark module exports, i.e. to apply proper wrapping behavior on the boundaries
     for (let file of this.filesByName.values()) {
diff --git a/std/assembly/index.d.ts b/std/assembly/index.d.ts
index 12a5c09127..3c97941a31 100644
--- a/std/assembly/index.d.ts
+++ b/std/assembly/index.d.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ declare type f64 = number;
 /** A 128-bit vector. */
 declare type v128 = object;
 /** A host reference. */
-declare type anyref = object;
+declare type anyref = object | null;
 
 // Compiler hints
 
diff --git a/std/assembly/reference.ts b/std/assembly/reference.ts
index e3ca7a6d72..159f0b901e 100644
--- a/std/assembly/reference.ts
+++ b/std/assembly/reference.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+/** Filler implementations. */
+@sealed @unmanaged
+export declare abstract class ref {
+  @lazy @external("ref", "null")
+  static readonly null: anyref;
+  @external("ref", "is_null")
+  static is_null(ref: anyref): bool;
+  @external("ref", "eq")
+  static eq(a: anyref, b: anyref): bool;
+}
+
 /** Host reference abstraction. */
 @sealed @unmanaged
 export abstract class Anyref {
diff --git a/tests/binaryen/anyref-locals.js b/tests/binaryen/anyref-locals.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a81df1fc17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/binaryen/anyref-locals.js
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+var binaryen = require("binaryen");
+// var mod = binaryen.parseText(`
+// (module
+//   (import "ref" "null" (global $ref_null anyref))
+//   (import "ref" "is_null" (func $ref_is_null (param anyref) (result i32)))
+//   (import "ref" "eq" (func $ref_eq (param anyref anyref) (result i32)))
+//   (func $test (result i32)
+//     (local $0 anyref)
+//     (local $1 anyref)
+//     (local.set $0
+//       (global.get $ref_null)
+//     )
+//     (local.set $1
+//       (global.get $ref_null)
+//     )
+//     (drop
+//       (call $ref_is_null
+//         (local.get $0)
+//       )
+//     )
+//     (return
+//       (call $ref_eq
+//         (local.get $0)
+//         (local.get $1)
+//       )
+//     )
+//   )
+//   (export $test $test)
+// )`);
+var mod = binaryen.parseText(`
+(module
+  (import "ref" "null" (global $ref_null anyref))
+  (import "ref" "is_null" (func $ref_is_null (param anyref) (result i32)))
+  (func $test
+    (local $0 anyref)
+    (local.set $0
+      (global.get $ref_null)
+    )
+    (drop
+      (call $ref_is_null
+        (local.get $0)
+      )
+    )
+    ;; remove this to make it work:
+    (drop
+      (call $ref_is_null
+        (local.get $0)
+      )
+    )
+  )
+  (export $test $test)
+)`);
+mod.setFeatures(binaryen.Features.ReferenceTypes);
+if (!mod.validate()) console.log(":-(");
+else console.log(mod.emitText());
+
+mod.optimize();
+if (!mod.validate()) console.log(":-(");
+else console.log("-- optimized --\n", mod.emitText());
diff --git a/tests/compiler.js b/tests/compiler.js
index 3f286b89df..b2d23e120d 100644
--- a/tests/compiler.js
+++ b/tests/compiler.js
@@ -313,7 +313,12 @@ function testInstantiate(basename, binaryBuffer, name, glue) {
         },
         Math,
         Date,
-        Reflect
+        Reflect,
+        ref: {
+          null: null,
+          is_null: (ref) => ref == null,
+          eq: (a, b) => a === b
+        }
       };
       if (glue.preInstantiate) {
         console.log(colorsUtil.white("  [preInstantiate]"));
diff --git a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.optimized.wat b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.optimized.wat
index 5fb12cfaa9..f3a49f11b0 100644
--- a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.optimized.wat
+++ b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.optimized.wat
@@ -4,13 +4,18 @@
  (type $FUNCSIG$va (func (param anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$aaa (func (param anyref anyref) (result anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$v (func))
+ (type $FUNCSIG$ia (func (param anyref) (result i32)))
+ (type $FUNCSIG$vaa (func (param anyref anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$aa (func (param anyref) (result anyref)))
  (import "reference-types" "someObject" (global $features/reference-types/someObject anyref))
  (import "reference-types" "someKey" (global $features/reference-types/someKey anyref))
+ (import "ref" "null" (global $~lib/reference/ref.null anyref))
  (import "Reflect" "has" (func $~lib/bindings/Reflect/has (param anyref anyref) (result i32)))
  (import "env" "abort" (func $~lib/builtins/abort (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
  (import "console" "log" (func $~lib/bindings/console/log (param anyref)))
  (import "Reflect" "get" (func $~lib/bindings/Reflect/get (param anyref anyref) (result anyref)))
+ (import "ref" "is_null" (func $~lib/reference/ref.is_null (param anyref) (result i32)))
+ (import "ref" "eq" (func $~lib/reference/ref.eq (param anyref anyref) (result i32)))
  (import "reference-types" "external" (func $features/reference-types/external (param anyref) (result anyref)))
  (memory $0 1)
  (data (i32.const 8) "6\00\00\00\01\00\00\00\01\00\00\006\00\00\00f\00e\00a\00t\00u\00r\00e\00s\00/\00r\00e\00f\00e\00r\00e\00n\00c\00e\00-\00t\00y\00p\00e\00s\00.\00t\00s")
@@ -18,7 +23,81 @@
  (export "external" (func $features/reference-types/external))
  (export "internal" (func $features/reference-types/internal))
  (start $start)
- (func $start:features/reference-types (; 5 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $features/reference-types/testGlobalFillers (; 7 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 36
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 37
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 38
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+ )
+ (func $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers2 (; 8 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$vaa) (param $0 anyref) (param $1 anyref)
+  local.get $0
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 54
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  local.get $0
+  local.get $1
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 56
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  local.get $0
+  local.get $1
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 57
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+ )
+ (func $start:features/reference-types (; 9 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
   global.get $features/reference-types/someObject
   global.get $features/reference-types/someKey
   call $~lib/bindings/Reflect/has
@@ -39,17 +118,32 @@
   global.get $features/reference-types/someKey
   call $~lib/bindings/Reflect/get
   call $~lib/bindings/console/log
+  call $features/reference-types/testGlobalFillers
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 45
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers2
  )
- (func $features/reference-types/internal (; 6 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$aa) (param $0 anyref) (result anyref)
+ (func $features/reference-types/internal (; 10 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$aa) (param $0 anyref) (result anyref)
   local.get $0
   call $features/reference-types/external
   call $features/reference-types/external
   call $features/reference-types/external
  )
- (func $start (; 7 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $start (; 11 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
   call $start:features/reference-types
  )
- (func $null (; 8 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $null (; 12 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
   nop
  )
 )
diff --git a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.ts b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.ts
index 61a75ead93..35129f9a89 100644
--- a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.ts
+++ b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.ts
@@ -25,3 +25,35 @@ import * as console from "bindings/console";
 console.log(someObject);
 console.log(someKey);
 console.log(Reflect.get(someObject, someKey));
+
+// can initialize and compare anyref globals and locals using fillers
+// for ref.null, ref.is_null and ref.eq
+
+var a: anyref;
+var b: anyref = null;
+
+function testGlobalFillers(): void {
+  assert(!a);
+  assert(a == b);
+  assert(!(a != b));
+}
+testGlobalFillers();
+
+function testLocalFillers(): void {
+  var a: anyref;
+  var b: anyref = null;
+  assert(!a);
+  // FIXME: 'Assertion failed: false, at: ./src/literal.h,87,makeFromInt32' as soon
+  // as 'a' is used twice
+  // assert(a == b);
+  // assert(!(a != b));
+}
+testLocalFillers();
+
+function testLocalFillers2(a: anyref, b: anyref): void {
+  assert(!a);
+  // TODO: Works when these are arguments
+  assert(a == b);
+  assert(!(a != b));
+}
+testLocalFillers2(null, null);
diff --git a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.untouched.wat b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.untouched.wat
index b73dd87ff1..14cc13d431 100644
--- a/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.untouched.wat
+++ b/tests/compiler/features/reference-types.untouched.wat
@@ -4,23 +4,137 @@
  (type $FUNCSIG$va (func (param anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$aaa (func (param anyref anyref) (result anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$v (func))
+ (type $FUNCSIG$ia (func (param anyref) (result i32)))
+ (type $FUNCSIG$vaa (func (param anyref anyref)))
  (type $FUNCSIG$aa (func (param anyref) (result anyref)))
  (import "reference-types" "someObject" (global $features/reference-types/someObject anyref))
  (import "reference-types" "someKey" (global $features/reference-types/someKey anyref))
+ (import "ref" "null" (global $~lib/reference/ref.null anyref))
  (import "Reflect" "has" (func $~lib/bindings/Reflect/has (param anyref anyref) (result i32)))
  (import "env" "abort" (func $~lib/builtins/abort (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
  (import "console" "log" (func $~lib/bindings/console/log (param anyref)))
  (import "Reflect" "get" (func $~lib/bindings/Reflect/get (param anyref anyref) (result anyref)))
+ (import "ref" "is_null" (func $~lib/reference/ref.is_null (param anyref) (result i32)))
+ (import "ref" "eq" (func $~lib/reference/ref.eq (param anyref anyref) (result i32)))
  (import "reference-types" "external" (func $features/reference-types/external (param anyref) (result anyref)))
  (memory $0 1)
  (data (i32.const 8) "6\00\00\00\01\00\00\00\01\00\00\006\00\00\00f\00e\00a\00t\00u\00r\00e\00s\00/\00r\00e\00f\00e\00r\00e\00n\00c\00e\00-\00t\00y\00p\00e\00s\00.\00t\00s\00")
  (table $0 1 funcref)
  (elem (i32.const 0) $null)
+ (global $features/reference-types/a (mut anyref) (global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null))
+ (global $features/reference-types/b (mut anyref) (global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null))
  (export "memory" (memory $0))
  (export "external" (func $features/reference-types/external))
  (export "internal" (func $features/reference-types/internal))
  (start $start)
- (func $start:features/reference-types (; 5 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $features/reference-types/testGlobalFillers (; 7 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+  global.get $features/reference-types/a
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 36
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  global.get $features/reference-types/a
+  global.get $features/reference-types/b
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.const 0
+  i32.ne
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 37
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  global.get $features/reference-types/a
+  global.get $features/reference-types/b
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 38
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+ )
+ (func $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers (; 8 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+  (local $0 anyref)
+  (local $1 anyref)
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  local.set $0
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  local.set $1
+  local.get $0
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 45
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+ )
+ (func $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers2 (; 9 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$vaa) (param $0 anyref) (param $1 anyref)
+  local.get $0
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.is_null
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 54
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  local.get $0
+  local.get $1
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.const 0
+  i32.ne
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 56
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+  local.get $0
+  local.get $1
+  call $~lib/reference/ref.eq
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  i32.eqz
+  if
+   i32.const 0
+   i32.const 24
+   i32.const 57
+   i32.const 2
+   call $~lib/builtins/abort
+   unreachable
+  end
+ )
+ (func $start:features/reference-types (; 10 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
   global.get $features/reference-types/someObject
   global.get $features/reference-types/someKey
   call $~lib/bindings/Reflect/has
@@ -43,8 +157,13 @@
   global.get $features/reference-types/someKey
   call $~lib/bindings/Reflect/get
   call $~lib/bindings/console/log
+  call $features/reference-types/testGlobalFillers
+  call $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  global.get $~lib/reference/ref.null
+  call $features/reference-types/testLocalFillers2
  )
- (func $features/reference-types/internal (; 6 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$aa) (param $0 anyref) (result anyref)
+ (func $features/reference-types/internal (; 11 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$aa) (param $0 anyref) (result anyref)
   (local $1 anyref)
   (local $2 anyref)
   (local $3 anyref)
@@ -59,9 +178,9 @@
   local.set $3
   local.get $3
  )
- (func $start (; 7 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $start (; 12 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
   call $start:features/reference-types
  )
- (func $null (; 8 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
+ (func $null (; 13 ;) (type $FUNCSIG$v)
  )
 )