diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index db504bf..d67824c 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -256,6 +256,9 @@ Result<Value> Pair::first() const {
 }
 
 Result<Value> Pair::second() const { return TRY(TRY(rest()).first()); }
+Result<Value> Pair::third() const {
+  return TRY(TRY(TRY(rest()).rest()).first());
+}
 
 Result<Value> Pair::rest() const {
   auto val = _value->rest.get();
@@ -660,5 +663,6 @@ Result<Value> Object::get(const Value& key) const {
 
 Result<Value> Object::first() const { return ERROR(TypeMismatch); }
 Result<Value> Object::second() const { return ERROR(TypeMismatch); }
+Result<Value> Object::third() const { return ERROR(TypeMismatch); }
 
 Result<Value> Object::rest() const { return ERROR(TypeMismatch); }
diff --git a/src/common.hpp b/src/common.hpp
index 504081e..b2d7f96 100644
--- a/src/common.hpp
+++ b/src/common.hpp
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ class Object {
   virtual Result<Value> get(const Value& key) const;
   virtual Result<Value> first() const;
   virtual Result<Value> second() const;
+  virtual Result<Value> third() const;
   virtual Result<Value> rest() const;
 
   Object() = default;
@@ -685,6 +686,7 @@ class Pair : public Object {
 
   Result<Value> first() const final;
   Result<Value> second() const final;
+  Result<Value> third() const final;
   Result<Value> rest() const final;
 
   virtual Result<Value> copy_value() const final;
@@ -1149,6 +1151,7 @@ class Value {
   }
   Result<Value> first() const { return ((Object*)buf)->first(); }
   Result<Value> second() const { return ((Object*)buf)->second(); }
+  Result<Value> third() const { return ((Object*)buf)->third(); }
   Result<Value> rest() const { return ((Object*)buf)->rest(); }
 
   // TODO: cmp() probably doesn't need arena parameter
diff --git a/src/compiler.cpp b/src/compiler.cpp
index a85dbe4..57b0ac1 100644
--- a/src/compiler.cpp
+++ b/src/compiler.cpp
@@ -557,6 +557,29 @@ Result<Expression> Compiler::compile_not(Context& context, Symbol& op,
   return std::move(ex);
 }
 
+Result<Expression> Compiler::compile_def(Context& context, Symbol& op,
+                                         const Value& expr) {
+  auto varname = TRY(expr.second());
+  if (!varname.is<Symbol>()) return ERROR(CompilationError);
+
+  auto var_expr = TRY(expr.third());
+
+  uint64_t maxreg = context.maxreg;
+  Expression ex = TRY(Expression::create());
+
+  auto comp = TRY(compile_expr(context, var_expr));
+  ex.add_code(comp.code);
+
+  int64_t gname = TRY(context.add_const(varname));
+  TRY(ex.add_opcode(Oc::GlobalStore, {1, (int64_t)gname},
+                    {0, (int64_t)comp.reg}));
+
+  ex.reg = comp.reg;
+  context.maxreg = maxreg + 1;
+
+  return std::move(ex);
+}
+
 Result<Expression> Compiler::compile_fn(Context& context, Symbol& op,
                                         const Value& expr) {
   Context ctx = TRY(Context::create(context));
@@ -841,6 +864,8 @@ Result<Expression> Compiler::compile_list(Context& context, const Value& expr) {
       return compile_or(context, sym, expr);
     } else if (TRY(sym.cmp("not")) == 0) {
       return compile_not(context, sym, expr);
+    } else if (TRY(sym.cmp("def")) == 0) {
+      return compile_def(context, sym, expr);
     } else if (TRY(sym.cmp("fn")) == 0) {
       return compile_fn(context, sym, expr);
     } else if (TRY(sym.cmp("let")) == 0) {
diff --git a/src/compiler.hpp b/src/compiler.hpp
index bf2dc42..b4b611b 100644
--- a/src/compiler.hpp
+++ b/src/compiler.hpp
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class Compiler {
                                 const Value& expr);
   Result<Expression> compile_not(Context& context, Symbol& op,
                                  const Value& expr);
+  Result<Expression> compile_def(Context& context, Symbol& op,
+                                 const Value& expr);
   Result<Expression> compile_fn(Context& context, Symbol& op,
                                 const Value& expr);
   Result<Expression> compile_let(Context& context, Symbol& op,
diff --git a/test/function.vli b/test/function.vli
index fcd3e0e..527cc01 100644
--- a/test/function.vli
+++ b/test/function.vli
@@ -28,8 +28,18 @@
   )
 
 
+;; Top-level functions should be able to capture the "let" scope
+;; to a closure
 (let ((x 42))
   (fn foo() x)
   )
 
 (assert (= (foo) 42))
+
+
+;; Top-level functions should be able to access top-level variables
+
+(def four 4)
+
+(fn add-four (x) (+ x four))
+(assert (= (add-four 5) 9))