diff --git a/shared/static/scripts/sx.js b/shared/static/scripts/sx.js
index 3cb1758..9d48f2d 100644
--- a/shared/static/scripts/sx.js
+++ b/shared/static/scripts/sx.js
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@
   }
   Macro.prototype._macro = true;
 
+  /** Thunk — deferred evaluation for tail-call optimization. */
+  function _Thunk(expr, env) { this.expr = expr; this.env = env; }
+  _Thunk.prototype._thunk = true;
+  function isThunk(x) { return x && x._thunk; }
+
   /** Marker for pre-rendered HTML that bypasses escaping. */
   function RawHTML(html) { this.html = html; }
   RawHTML.prototype._raw = true;
@@ -338,7 +343,17 @@
 
   // --- Evaluator ---
 
-  function sxEval(expr, env) {
+  /** Unwrap thunks by re-entering the evaluator until we get an actual value. */
+  function trampoline(val) {
+    while (isThunk(val)) val = _sxEval(val.expr, val.env);
+    return val;
+  }
+
+  /** Public evaluator — trampolines thunks from tail positions. */
+  function sxEval(expr, env) { return trampoline(_sxEval(expr, env)); }
+
+  /** Internal evaluator — may return _Thunk for tail positions. */
+  function _sxEval(expr, env) {
     // Literals
     if (typeof expr === "number" || typeof expr === "string" || typeof expr === "boolean") return expr;
     if (isNil(expr)) return NIL;
@@ -387,7 +402,7 @@
         var macroVal = env[head.name];
         if (isMacro(macroVal)) {
           var expanded = expandMacro(macroVal, expr.slice(1), env);
-          return sxEval(expanded, env);
+          return new _Thunk(expanded, env);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -409,7 +424,7 @@
     }
     var local = merge({}, fn.closure, callerEnv);
     for (var i = 0; i < fn.params.length; i++) local[fn.params[i]] = args[i];
-    return sxEval(fn.body, local);
+    return new _Thunk(fn.body, local);
   }
 
   function callComponent(comp, rawArgs, env) {
@@ -430,7 +445,7 @@
       local[p] = (p in kwargs) ? kwargs[p] : NIL;
     }
     if (comp.hasChildren) local["children"] = children;
-    return sxEval(comp.body, local);
+    return new _Thunk(comp.body, local);
   }
 
   // --- Shared helpers for special/render forms ---
@@ -501,20 +516,19 @@
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["if"] = function (expr, env) {
     var cond = sxEval(expr[1], env);
-    if (isSxTruthy(cond)) return sxEval(expr[2], env);
-    return expr.length > 3 ? sxEval(expr[3], env) : NIL;
+    if (isSxTruthy(cond)) return new _Thunk(expr[2], env);
+    return expr.length > 3 ? new _Thunk(expr[3], env) : NIL;
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["when"] = function (expr, env) {
     if (!isSxTruthy(sxEval(expr[1], env))) return NIL;
-    var result = NIL;
-    for (var i = 2; i < expr.length; i++) result = sxEval(expr[i], env);
-    return result;
+    for (var i = 2; i < expr.length - 1; i++) sxEval(expr[i], env);
+    return new _Thunk(expr[expr.length - 1], env);
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["cond"] = function (expr, env) {
     var branch = _evalCond(expr.slice(1), env);
-    return branch ? sxEval(branch, env) : NIL;
+    return branch ? new _Thunk(branch, env) : NIL;
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["case"] = function (expr, env) {
@@ -522,8 +536,8 @@
     for (var i = 2; i < expr.length - 1; i += 2) {
       var t = expr[i];
       if ((isKw(t) && t.name === "else") || (isSym(t) && (t.name === ":else" || t.name === "else")))
-        return sxEval(expr[i + 1], env);
-      if (val == sxEval(t, env)) return sxEval(expr[i + 1], env);
+        return new _Thunk(expr[i + 1], env);
+      if (val == sxEval(t, env)) return new _Thunk(expr[i + 1], env);
     }
     return NIL;
   };
@@ -548,9 +562,8 @@
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["let"] = SPECIAL_FORMS["let*"] = function (expr, env) {
     var local = _processBindings(expr[1], env);
-    var result = NIL;
-    for (var k = 2; k < expr.length; k++) result = sxEval(expr[k], local);
-    return result;
+    for (var k = 2; k < expr.length - 1; k++) sxEval(expr[k], local);
+    return expr.length > 2 ? new _Thunk(expr[expr.length - 1], local) : NIL;
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["lambda"] = SPECIAL_FORMS["fn"] = function (expr, env) {
@@ -590,9 +603,8 @@
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["begin"] = SPECIAL_FORMS["do"] = function (expr, env) {
-    var result = NIL;
-    for (var i = 1; i < expr.length; i++) result = sxEval(expr[i], env);
-    return result;
+    for (var i = 1; i < expr.length - 1; i++) sxEval(expr[i], env);
+    return expr.length > 1 ? new _Thunk(expr[expr.length - 1], env) : NIL;
   };
 
   SPECIAL_FORMS["quote"] = function (expr) { return expr[1]; };
@@ -617,7 +629,7 @@
         args = [result];
       }
       if (typeof fn === "function") result = fn.apply(null, args);
-      else if (isLambda(fn)) result = callLambda(fn, args, env);
+      else if (isLambda(fn)) result = trampoline(callLambda(fn, args, env));
       else throw new Error("-> form not callable: " + fn);
     }
     return result;
@@ -687,32 +699,32 @@
 
   HO_FORMS["map"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
-    return coll.map(function (item) { return isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [item], env) : fn(item); });
+    return coll.map(function (item) { return isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [item], env)) : fn(item); });
   };
 
   HO_FORMS["map-indexed"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
-    return coll.map(function (item, i) { return isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [i, item], env) : fn(i, item); });
+    return coll.map(function (item, i) { return isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [i, item], env)) : fn(i, item); });
   };
 
   HO_FORMS["filter"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
     return coll.filter(function (item) {
-      var r = isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [item], env) : fn(item);
+      var r = isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [item], env)) : fn(item);
       return isSxTruthy(r);
     });
   };
 
   HO_FORMS["reduce"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), acc = sxEval(expr[2], env), coll = sxEval(expr[3], env);
-    for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) acc = isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [acc, coll[i]], env) : fn(acc, coll[i]);
+    for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) acc = isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [acc, coll[i]], env)) : fn(acc, coll[i]);
     return acc;
   };
 
   HO_FORMS["some"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
     for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) {
-      var r = isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env) : fn(coll[i]);
+      var r = isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env)) : fn(coll[i]);
       if (isSxTruthy(r)) return r;
     }
     return NIL;
@@ -721,14 +733,14 @@
   HO_FORMS["every?"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
     for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) {
-      if (!isSxTruthy(isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env) : fn(coll[i]))) return false;
+      if (!isSxTruthy(isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env)) : fn(coll[i]))) return false;
     }
     return true;
   };
 
   HO_FORMS["for-each"] = function (expr, env) {
     var fn = sxEval(expr[1], env), coll = sxEval(expr[2], env);
-    for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) isLambda(fn) ? callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env) : fn(coll[i]);
+    for (var i = 0; i < coll.length; i++) isLambda(fn) ? trampoline(callLambda(fn, [coll[i]], env)) : fn(coll[i]);
     return NIL;
   };
 
@@ -1352,7 +1364,7 @@
     _types: { NIL: NIL, Symbol: Symbol, Keyword: Keyword, Lambda: Lambda, Component: Component, RawHTML: RawHTML },
     _eval: sxEval,
     _expandMacro: expandMacro,
-    _callLambda: callLambda,
+    _callLambda: function (fn, args, env) { return trampoline(callLambda(fn, args, env)); },
     _renderDOM: renderDOM,
   };
 
diff --git a/shared/sx/async_eval.py b/shared/sx/async_eval.py
index 7e8cd63..891f353 100644
--- a/shared/sx/async_eval.py
+++ b/shared/sx/async_eval.py
@@ -33,12 +33,40 @@ from .html import (
 )
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Async TCO — thunk + trampoline
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class _AsyncThunk:
+    """Deferred (expr, env, ctx) for tail-call optimization."""
+    __slots__ = ("expr", "env", "ctx")
+    def __init__(self, expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> None:
+        self.expr = expr
+        self.env = env
+        self.ctx = ctx
+
+
+async def _async_trampoline(val: Any) -> Any:
+    """Iteratively resolve thunks from tail positions."""
+    while isinstance(val, _AsyncThunk):
+        val = await _async_eval(val.expr, val.env, val.ctx)
+    return val
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Async evaluate
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 async def async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any:
-    """Evaluate *expr* in *env*, awaiting I/O primitives inline."""
+    """Public entry — evaluates and trampolines thunks."""
+    result = await _async_eval(expr, env, ctx)
+    while isinstance(result, _AsyncThunk):
+        result = await _async_eval(result.expr, result.env, result.ctx)
+    return result
+
+
+async def _async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any:
+    """Internal evaluator — may return _AsyncThunk for tail positions."""
     # --- literals ---
     if isinstance(expr, (int, float, str, bool)):
         return expr
@@ -66,7 +94,7 @@ async def async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any
 
     # --- dict literal ---
     if isinstance(expr, dict):
-        return {k: await async_eval(v, env, ctx) for k, v in expr.items()}
+        return {k: await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(v, env, ctx)) for k, v in expr.items()}
 
     # --- list ---
     if not isinstance(expr, list):
@@ -77,7 +105,7 @@ async def async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any
     head = expr[0]
 
     if not isinstance(head, (Symbol, Lambda, list)):
-        return [await async_eval(x, env, ctx) for x in expr]
+        return [await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(x, env, ctx)) for x in expr]
 
     if isinstance(head, Symbol):
         name = head.name
@@ -96,12 +124,12 @@ async def async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any
         if ho is not None:
             return await ho(expr, env, ctx)
 
-        # Macro expansion
+        # Macro expansion — tail position
         if name in env:
             val = env[name]
             if isinstance(val, Macro):
                 expanded = _expand_macro(val, expr[1:], env)
-                return await async_eval(expanded, env, ctx)
+                return _AsyncThunk(expanded, env, ctx)
 
         # Render forms in eval position — delegate to renderer and return
         # as _RawHTML so it won't be double-escaped when used in render
@@ -111,8 +139,8 @@ async def async_eval(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any
             return _RawHTML(html)
 
     # --- function / lambda call ---
-    fn = await async_eval(head, env, ctx)
-    args = [await async_eval(a, env, ctx) for a in expr[1:]]
+    fn = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(head, env, ctx))
+    args = [await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(a, env, ctx)) for a in expr[1:]]
 
     if callable(fn) and not isinstance(fn, (Lambda, Component)):
         result = fn(*args)
@@ -153,7 +181,7 @@ async def _async_call_lambda(
     local.update(caller_env)
     for p, v in zip(fn.params, args):
         local[p] = v
-    return await async_eval(fn.body, local, ctx)
+    return _AsyncThunk(fn.body, local, ctx)
 
 
 async def _async_call_component(
@@ -176,7 +204,7 @@ async def _async_call_component(
         local[p] = kwargs.get(p, NIL)
     if comp.has_children:
         local["children"] = children
-    return await async_eval(comp.body, local, ctx)
+    return _AsyncThunk(comp.body, local, ctx)
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -184,28 +212,28 @@ async def _async_call_component(
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 async def _asf_if(expr, env, ctx):
-    cond = await async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx)
+    cond = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx))
     if cond and cond is not NIL:
-        return await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
+        return _AsyncThunk(expr[2], env, ctx)
     if len(expr) > 3:
-        return await async_eval(expr[3], env, ctx)
+        return _AsyncThunk(expr[3], env, ctx)
     return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_when(expr, env, ctx):
-    cond = await async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx)
+    cond = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx))
     if cond and cond is not NIL:
-        result = NIL
-        for body_expr in expr[2:]:
-            result = await async_eval(body_expr, env, ctx)
-        return result
+        for body_expr in expr[2:-1]:
+            await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(body_expr, env, ctx))
+        if len(expr) > 2:
+            return _AsyncThunk(expr[-1], env, ctx)
     return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_and(expr, env, ctx):
     result: Any = True
     for arg in expr[1:]:
-        result = await async_eval(arg, env, ctx)
+        result = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(arg, env, ctx))
         if not result:
             return result
     return result
@@ -214,7 +242,7 @@ async def _asf_and(expr, env, ctx):
 async def _asf_or(expr, env, ctx):
     result: Any = False
     for arg in expr[1:]:
-        result = await async_eval(arg, env, ctx)
+        result = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(arg, env, ctx))
         if result:
             return result
     return result
@@ -228,16 +256,17 @@ async def _asf_let(expr, env, ctx):
             for binding in bindings:
                 var = binding[0]
                 vname = var.name if isinstance(var, Symbol) else var
-                local[vname] = await async_eval(binding[1], local, ctx)
+                local[vname] = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(binding[1], local, ctx))
         elif len(bindings) % 2 == 0:
             for i in range(0, len(bindings), 2):
                 var = bindings[i]
                 vname = var.name if isinstance(var, Symbol) else var
-                local[vname] = await async_eval(bindings[i + 1], local, ctx)
-    result: Any = NIL
-    for body_expr in expr[2:]:
-        result = await async_eval(body_expr, local, ctx)
-    return result
+                local[vname] = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(bindings[i + 1], local, ctx))
+    for body_expr in expr[2:-1]:
+        await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(body_expr, local, ctx))
+    if len(expr) > 2:
+        return _AsyncThunk(expr[-1], local, ctx)
+    return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_lambda(expr, env, ctx):
@@ -253,7 +282,7 @@ async def _asf_lambda(expr, env, ctx):
 
 async def _asf_define(expr, env, ctx):
     name_sym = expr[1]
-    value = await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
+    value = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx))
     if isinstance(value, Lambda) and value.name is None:
         value.name = name_sym.name
     env[name_sym.name] = value
@@ -276,10 +305,11 @@ async def _asf_defhandler(expr, env, ctx):
 
 
 async def _asf_begin(expr, env, ctx):
-    result: Any = NIL
-    for sub in expr[1:]:
-        result = await async_eval(sub, env, ctx)
-    return result
+    for sub in expr[1:-1]:
+        await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(sub, env, ctx))
+    if len(expr) > 1:
+        return _AsyncThunk(expr[-1], env, ctx)
+    return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_quote(expr, env, ctx):
@@ -325,65 +355,65 @@ async def _asf_cond(expr, env, ctx):
         for clause in clauses:
             test = clause[0]
             if isinstance(test, Symbol) and test.name in ("else", ":else"):
-                return await async_eval(clause[1], env, ctx)
+                return _AsyncThunk(clause[1], env, ctx)
             if isinstance(test, Keyword) and test.name == "else":
-                return await async_eval(clause[1], env, ctx)
-            if await async_eval(test, env, ctx):
-                return await async_eval(clause[1], env, ctx)
+                return _AsyncThunk(clause[1], env, ctx)
+            if await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(test, env, ctx)):
+                return _AsyncThunk(clause[1], env, ctx)
     else:
         i = 0
         while i < len(clauses) - 1:
             test = clauses[i]
             result = clauses[i + 1]
             if isinstance(test, Keyword) and test.name == "else":
-                return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
+                return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
             if isinstance(test, Symbol) and test.name in (":else", "else"):
-                return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
-            if await async_eval(test, env, ctx):
-                return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
+                return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
+            if await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(test, env, ctx)):
+                return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
             i += 2
     return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_case(expr, env, ctx):
-    match_val = await async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx)
+    match_val = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx))
     clauses = expr[2:]
     i = 0
     while i < len(clauses) - 1:
         test = clauses[i]
         result = clauses[i + 1]
         if isinstance(test, Keyword) and test.name == "else":
-            return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
+            return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
         if isinstance(test, Symbol) and test.name in (":else", "else"):
-            return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
-        if match_val == await async_eval(test, env, ctx):
-            return await async_eval(result, env, ctx)
+            return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
+        if match_val == await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(test, env, ctx)):
+            return _AsyncThunk(result, env, ctx)
         i += 2
     return NIL
 
 
 async def _asf_thread_first(expr, env, ctx):
-    result = await async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx)
+    result = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[1], env, ctx))
     for form in expr[2:]:
         if isinstance(form, list):
-            fn = await async_eval(form[0], env, ctx)
-            args = [result] + [await async_eval(a, env, ctx) for a in form[1:]]
+            fn = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(form[0], env, ctx))
+            args = [result] + [await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(a, env, ctx)) for a in form[1:]]
         else:
-            fn = await async_eval(form, env, ctx)
+            fn = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(form, env, ctx))
             args = [result]
         if callable(fn) and not isinstance(fn, (Lambda, Component)):
             result = fn(*args)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(result):
                 result = await result
         elif isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            result = await _async_call_lambda(fn, args, env, ctx)
+            result = await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, args, env, ctx))
         else:
             raise EvalError(f"-> form not callable: {fn!r}")
     return result
 
 
 async def _asf_set_bang(expr, env, ctx):
-    value = await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
+    value = await _async_trampoline(await _async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx))
     env[expr[1].name] = value
     return value
 
@@ -422,7 +452,7 @@ async def _aho_map(expr, env, ctx):
     results = []
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            results.append(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx))
+            results.append(await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx)))
         elif callable(fn):
             r = fn(item)
             results.append(await r if inspect.iscoroutine(r) else r)
@@ -437,7 +467,7 @@ async def _aho_map_indexed(expr, env, ctx):
     results = []
     for i, item in enumerate(coll):
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            results.append(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [i, item], env, ctx))
+            results.append(await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [i, item], env, ctx)))
         elif callable(fn):
             r = fn(i, item)
             results.append(await r if inspect.iscoroutine(r) else r)
@@ -452,7 +482,7 @@ async def _aho_filter(expr, env, ctx):
     results = []
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            val = await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx)
+            val = await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx))
         elif callable(fn):
             val = fn(item)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(val):
@@ -470,7 +500,7 @@ async def _aho_reduce(expr, env, ctx):
     coll = await async_eval(expr[3], env, ctx)
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            acc = await _async_call_lambda(fn, [acc, item], env, ctx)
+            acc = await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [acc, item], env, ctx))
         else:
             acc = fn(acc, item)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(acc):
@@ -483,7 +513,7 @@ async def _aho_some(expr, env, ctx):
     coll = await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            result = await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx)
+            result = await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx))
         else:
             result = fn(item)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(result):
@@ -498,7 +528,7 @@ async def _aho_every(expr, env, ctx):
     coll = await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            val = await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx)
+            val = await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx))
         else:
             val = fn(item)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(val):
@@ -513,7 +543,7 @@ async def _aho_for_each(expr, env, ctx):
     coll = await async_eval(expr[2], env, ctx)
     for item in coll:
         if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-            await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx)
+            await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, [item], env, ctx))
         elif callable(fn):
             r = fn(item)
             if inspect.iscoroutine(r):
@@ -1038,7 +1068,7 @@ async def _aser(expr: Any, env: dict[str, Any], ctx: RequestContext) -> Any:
             return await result
         return result
     if isinstance(fn, Lambda):
-        return await _async_call_lambda(fn, args, env, ctx)
+        return await _async_trampoline(await _async_call_lambda(fn, args, env, ctx))
     if isinstance(fn, Component):
         # Component invoked as function — serialize the call
         return await _aser_call(f"~{fn.name}", expr[1:], env, ctx)