diff --git a/ndc_vm/src/chunk.rs b/ndc_vm/src/chunk.rs
index bad6e33..ad56283 100644
--- a/ndc_vm/src/chunk.rs
+++ b/ndc_vm/src/chunk.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,41 @@ use ndc_lexer::Span;
 use ndc_parser::CaptureSource;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 
+/// A signed displacement applied to the instruction pointer to perform a jump.
+///
+/// Wraps `isize` so the contract — "relative offset, in instructions, from the
+/// instruction *after* the jump opcode" — has a single definition site. Future
+/// stages of a compile pipeline may swap this for an `enum JumpTarget { … }`
+/// without touching every call site.
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct JumpOffset(isize);
+
+impl JumpOffset {
+    pub const ZERO: Self = Self(0);
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn new(offset: isize) -> Self {
+        Self(offset)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn raw(self) -> isize {
+        self.0
+    }
+
+    /// Advance `ip` by this offset using wrapping signed arithmetic.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn apply(self, ip: usize) -> usize {
+        ip.wrapping_add_signed(self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for JumpOffset {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        std::fmt::Debug::fmt(&self.0, f)
+    }
+}
+
 /// A single bytecode instruction.
 ///
 /// ## Stack effects
@@ -57,11 +92,11 @@ pub enum OpCode {
     /// Pops top of stack. `[… value → …]`
     Pop,
     /// Unconditional jump. `[…] → […]`
-    Jump(isize),
+    Jump(JumpOffset),
     /// Peeks top; jumps if true. `[… bool → … bool]`
-    JumpIfTrue(isize),
+    JumpIfTrue(JumpOffset),
     /// Peeks top; jumps if false. `[… bool → … bool]`
-    JumpIfFalse(isize),
+    JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset),
     /// Pushes a constant. `[… → … value]`
     Constant(usize),
     /// Copies local slot onto stack. `[… → … value]`
@@ -88,7 +123,7 @@ pub enum OpCode {
     /// Pops value, pushes iterator. No-op if already an iterator. `[… value → … iter]`
     GetIterator,
     /// Peeks iterator; pushes next value or jumps if exhausted. `[… iter → … iter value]`
-    IterNext(isize),
+    IterNext(JumpOffset),
     /// Pops value, appends to list at local slot. `[… value → …]`
     ListPush(usize),
     /// Pops value then key, inserts into map at local slot. `[… key value → …]`
@@ -113,9 +148,9 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for OpCode {
             Self::Call(n) => write!(f, "Call({n})"),
             Self::CallVec(n) => write!(f, "CallVec({n})"),
             Self::Pop => write!(f, "Pop"),
-            Self::Jump(n) => write!(f, "Jump({n})"),
-            Self::JumpIfTrue(n) => write!(f, "JumpIfTrue({n})"),
-            Self::JumpIfFalse(n) => write!(f, "JumpIfFalse({n})"),
+            Self::Jump(n) => write!(f, "Jump({n:?})"),
+            Self::JumpIfTrue(n) => write!(f, "JumpIfTrue({n:?})"),
+            Self::JumpIfFalse(n) => write!(f, "JumpIfFalse({n:?})"),
             Self::Constant(n) => write!(f, "Constant({n})"),
             Self::GetLocal(n) => write!(f, "GetLocal({n})"),
             Self::SetLocal(n) => write!(f, "SetLocal({n})"),
@@ -141,7 +176,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for OpCode {
                 write!(f, ")")
             }
             Self::GetIterator => write!(f, "GetIterator"),
-            Self::IterNext(n) => write!(f, "IterNext({n})"),
+            Self::IterNext(n) => write!(f, "IterNext({n:?})"),
             Self::ListPush(n) => write!(f, "ListPush({n})"),
             Self::MapInsert(n) => write!(f, "MapInsert({n})"),
             Self::MakeRange { inclusive, bounded } => {
@@ -180,27 +215,20 @@ impl Chunk {
         self.code.len() - 1
     }
 
-    pub fn patch_jump(&mut self, op_idx: usize) {
-        let offset =
-            isize::try_from(self.code.len() - op_idx - 1).expect("jump too large to patch");
-        match self.code.get_mut(op_idx) {
+    /// Overwrites the jump operand of a `Jump`, `JumpIfTrue`, `JumpIfFalse`, or
+    /// `IterNext` already written at `idx`. Panics on any other opcode.
+    pub fn set_jump_offset(&mut self, idx: usize, offset: JumpOffset) {
+        match self.code.get_mut(idx) {
             Some(
                 OpCode::JumpIfFalse(n)
                 | OpCode::JumpIfTrue(n)
                 | OpCode::Jump(n)
                 | OpCode::IterNext(n),
             ) => *n = offset,
-            _ => panic!("expected a patchable jump instruction at index {op_idx}"),
+            _ => panic!("expected a patchable jump instruction at index {idx}"),
         }
     }
 
-    /// Emits a `Jump` that goes back to `target` (a previously recorded chunk offset).
-    pub fn write_jump_back(&mut self, target: usize, span: Span) -> usize {
-        let offset =
-            -isize::try_from(self.len() - target + 1).expect("loop too large to jump back");
-        self.write(OpCode::Jump(offset), span)
-    }
-
     pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
         self.code.is_empty()
     }
diff --git a/ndc_vm/src/compiler.rs b/ndc_vm/src/compiler.rs
index b062491..bca1219 100644
--- a/ndc_vm/src/compiler.rs
+++ b/ndc_vm/src/compiler.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::chunk::{Chunk, OpCode};
+use crate::chunk::{Chunk, JumpOffset, OpCode};
 use crate::value::{CompiledFunction, Function};
 use crate::{Object, Value};
 use ndc_core::{StaticType, TypeSignature};
@@ -139,16 +139,20 @@ impl Compiler {
                 self.compile_expr(*left)?;
                 match operator {
                     LogicalOperator::And => {
-                        let end_jump = self.chunk.write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(0), left_span);
+                        let end_jump = self
+                            .chunk
+                            .write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::ZERO), left_span);
                         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
                         self.compile_expr(*right)?;
-                        self.chunk.patch_jump(end_jump);
+                        self.patch_jump(end_jump);
                     }
                     LogicalOperator::Or => {
-                        let end_jump = self.chunk.write(OpCode::JumpIfTrue(0), left_span);
+                        let end_jump = self
+                            .chunk
+                            .write(OpCode::JumpIfTrue(JumpOffset::ZERO), left_span);
                         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
                         self.compile_expr(*right)?;
-                        self.chunk.patch_jump(end_jump);
+                        self.patch_jump(end_jump);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -420,14 +424,14 @@ impl Compiler {
                 self.chunk.write(OpCode::Return, span);
             }
             Expression::Break => {
-                let idx = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(0), span); // will be backpatched
+                let idx = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(JumpOffset::ZERO), span); // will be backpatched
                 self.current_loop_context_mut()
                     .ok_or(CompileError::unexpected_break(span))?
                     .break_instructions
                     .push(idx);
             }
             Expression::Continue => {
-                self.chunk.write_jump_back(
+                self.write_jump_back(
                     self.current_loop_context()
                         .ok_or(CompileError::unexpected_continue(span))?
                         .start,
@@ -583,6 +587,23 @@ impl Compiler {
             ResolvedVar::Global { .. } => unreachable!("globals are native, never assigned"),
         };
     }
+
+    /// Backpatches a forward jump at `op_idx` to land just after the most recently
+    /// written instruction.
+    fn patch_jump(&mut self, op_idx: usize) {
+        let offset =
+            isize::try_from(self.chunk.len() - op_idx - 1).expect("jump too large to patch");
+        self.chunk.set_jump_offset(op_idx, JumpOffset::new(offset));
+    }
+
+    /// Emits a `Jump` that goes back to `target` (a previously recorded chunk offset).
+    fn write_jump_back(&mut self, target: usize, span: Span) -> usize {
+        let offset =
+            -isize::try_from(self.chunk.len() - target + 1).expect("loop too large to jump back");
+        self.chunk
+            .write(OpCode::Jump(JumpOffset::new(offset)), span)
+    }
+
     fn compile_block(
         &mut self,
         statements: Vec<ExpressionLocation>,
@@ -617,23 +638,29 @@ impl Compiler {
     ) -> Result<(), CompileError> {
         let condition_span = condition.span;
         self.compile_expr(condition)?;
-        let conditional_jump_idx = self.chunk.write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(0), condition_span);
+        let conditional_jump_idx = self
+            .chunk
+            .write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::ZERO), condition_span);
         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
         self.compile_expr(on_true)?;
         if let Some(on_false) = on_false {
-            let jump_to_end = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(0), Span::synthetic());
-            self.chunk.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
+            let jump_to_end = self
+                .chunk
+                .write(OpCode::Jump(JumpOffset::ZERO), Span::synthetic());
+            self.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
             self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
             self.compile_expr(on_false)?;
-            self.chunk.patch_jump(jump_to_end);
+            self.patch_jump(jump_to_end);
         } else {
             // No else branch — push unit so the if-expression always produces a value.
-            let jump_to_end = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(0), Span::synthetic());
-            self.chunk.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
+            let jump_to_end = self
+                .chunk
+                .write(OpCode::Jump(JumpOffset::ZERO), Span::synthetic());
+            self.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
             self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
             let idx = self.chunk.add_constant(Value::unit());
             self.chunk.write(OpCode::Constant(idx), Span::synthetic());
-            self.chunk.patch_jump(jump_to_end);
+            self.patch_jump(jump_to_end);
         }
 
         Ok(())
@@ -648,17 +675,19 @@ impl Compiler {
         let condition_span = condition.span;
         let loop_start = self.new_loop_context();
         self.compile_expr(condition)?;
-        let conditional_jump_idx = self.chunk.write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(0), condition_span);
+        let conditional_jump_idx = self
+            .chunk
+            .write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::ZERO), condition_span);
         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
         self.compile_expr(loop_body)?;
         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
-        self.chunk.write_jump_back(loop_start, Span::synthetic());
-        self.chunk.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
+        self.write_jump_back(loop_start, Span::synthetic());
+        self.patch_jump(conditional_jump_idx);
         self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
         let break_instructions =
             std::mem::take(&mut self.current_loop_context_mut().unwrap().break_instructions);
         for instruction in break_instructions {
-            self.chunk.patch_jump(instruction)
+            self.patch_jump(instruction)
         }
         self.end_loop_context();
         Ok(())
@@ -832,7 +861,7 @@ impl Compiler {
                 self.chunk.write(OpCode::GetIterator, sequence.span);
 
                 let loop_start = self.new_loop_context();
-                let iter_next = self.chunk.write(OpCode::IterNext(0), span);
+                let iter_next = self.chunk.write(OpCode::IterNext(JumpOffset::ZERO), span);
                 self.compile_declare_lvalue(l_value.clone(), span)?;
 
                 self.compile_for_iterations(rest, span, compile_leaf)?;
@@ -843,15 +872,15 @@ impl Compiler {
                     self.chunk.write(OpCode::CloseUpvalue(slot), span);
                 }
 
-                self.chunk.write_jump_back(loop_start, span);
+                self.write_jump_back(loop_start, span);
 
                 // Both IterNext-done and break jump to the iterator Pop
-                self.chunk.patch_jump(iter_next);
+                self.patch_jump(iter_next);
                 let break_instructions = std::mem::take(
                     &mut self.current_loop_context_mut().unwrap().break_instructions,
                 );
                 for instruction in break_instructions {
-                    self.chunk.patch_jump(instruction);
+                    self.patch_jump(instruction);
                 }
                 self.end_loop_context();
 
@@ -860,13 +889,15 @@ impl Compiler {
             }
             ForIteration::Guard(condition) => {
                 self.compile_expr(condition.clone())?;
-                let skip_jump = self.chunk.write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(0), span);
+                let skip_jump = self
+                    .chunk
+                    .write(OpCode::JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::ZERO), span);
                 self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
                 self.compile_for_iterations(rest, span, compile_leaf)?;
-                let end_jump = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(0), span);
-                self.chunk.patch_jump(skip_jump);
+                let end_jump = self.chunk.write(OpCode::Jump(JumpOffset::ZERO), span);
+                self.patch_jump(skip_jump);
                 self.chunk.write(OpCode::Pop, Span::synthetic());
-                self.chunk.patch_jump(end_jump);
+                self.patch_jump(end_jump);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ndc_vm/src/vm.rs b/ndc_vm/src/vm.rs
index d406813..3e16568 100644
--- a/ndc_vm/src/vm.rs
+++ b/ndc_vm/src/vm.rs
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ impl Vm {
                     let top = self.stack.last().expect("stack underflow");
                     match top {
                         Value::Bool(false) => {
-                            frame.ip = frame.ip.wrapping_add_signed(offset);
+                            frame.ip = offset.apply(frame.ip);
                         }
                         Value::Bool(true) => {}
                         value => {
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ impl Vm {
                     let top = self.stack.last().expect("stack underflow");
                     match top {
                         Value::Bool(true) => {
-                            frame.ip = frame.ip.wrapping_add_signed(offset);
+                            frame.ip = offset.apply(frame.ip);
                         }
                         Value::Bool(false) => {}
                         value => {
@@ -247,8 +247,7 @@ impl Vm {
                     }
                 }
                 OpCode::Jump(offset) => {
-                    let offset = *offset;
-                    frame.ip = frame.ip.wrapping_add_signed(offset);
+                    frame.ip = offset.apply(frame.ip);
                 }
                 OpCode::Pop => {
                     self.stack.pop();
@@ -434,7 +433,7 @@ impl Vm {
                             self.stack.push(value);
                         }
                         None => {
-                            frame.ip = frame.ip.wrapping_add_signed(offset);
+                            frame.ip = offset.apply(frame.ip);
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/tests/compiler/tests/compiler.rs b/tests/compiler/tests/compiler.rs
index 2f979ce..779c25a 100644
--- a/tests/compiler/tests/compiler.rs
+++ b/tests/compiler/tests/compiler.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use ndc_lexer::{Lexer, SourceId};
 use ndc_parser::Parser;
+use ndc_vm::chunk::JumpOffset;
 use ndc_vm::chunk::OpCode;
 use ndc_vm::chunk::OpCode::*;
 use ndc_vm::compiler::Compiler;
@@ -53,10 +54,10 @@ fn test_if_without_else() {
         compile("if true { 1 }"),
         [
             Constant(0),
-            JumpIfFalse(3),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(3)),
             Pop,
             Constant(1),
-            Jump(2),
+            Jump(JumpOffset::new(2)),
             Pop,
             Constant(2),
             Halt
@@ -80,10 +81,10 @@ fn test_if_with_else() {
         compile("if true { 1 } else { 2 }"),
         [
             Constant(0),
-            JumpIfFalse(3),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(3)),
             Pop,
             Constant(1),
-            Jump(2),
+            Jump(JumpOffset::new(2)),
             Pop,
             Constant(2),
             Halt
@@ -104,7 +105,13 @@ fn test_if_with_else() {
 fn test_and() {
     assert_eq!(
         compile("true and false"),
-        [Constant(0), JumpIfFalse(2), Pop, Constant(1), Halt]
+        [
+            Constant(0),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(2)),
+            Pop,
+            Constant(1),
+            Halt
+        ]
     );
 }
 
@@ -121,7 +128,13 @@ fn test_and() {
 fn test_or() {
     assert_eq!(
         compile("true or false"),
-        [Constant(0), JumpIfTrue(2), Pop, Constant(1), Halt]
+        [
+            Constant(0),
+            JumpIfTrue(JumpOffset::new(2)),
+            Pop,
+            Constant(1),
+            Halt
+        ]
     );
 }
 
@@ -186,10 +199,10 @@ fn test_if_with_statement_else() {
         compile("if true { 3 } else { 3; }"),
         [
             Constant(0),
-            JumpIfFalse(3),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(3)),
             Pop,
             Constant(1),
-            Jump(4),
+            Jump(JumpOffset::new(4)),
             Pop,
             Constant(2),
             Pop,
@@ -221,12 +234,12 @@ fn test_if_with_statement_branches() {
         compile("if true { 3; } else { 3; }"),
         [
             Constant(0),
-            JumpIfFalse(5),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(5)),
             Pop,
             Constant(1),
             Pop,
             Constant(2),
-            Jump(4),
+            Jump(JumpOffset::new(4)),
             Pop,
             Constant(3),
             Pop,
@@ -252,11 +265,11 @@ fn test_while() {
         compile("while true { 1 }"),
         [
             Constant(0),
-            JumpIfFalse(4),
+            JumpIfFalse(JumpOffset::new(4)),
             Pop,
             Constant(1),
             Pop,
-            Jump(-6),
+            Jump(JumpOffset::new(-6)),
             Pop,
             Halt
         ]