diff --git a/lib/go/eval.sx b/lib/go/eval.sx
index f5876627..b3e673ec 100644
--- a/lib/go/eval.sx
+++ b/lib/go/eval.sx
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@
     (list "print"  (list :go-builtin "print"))
     (list "make"   (list :go-builtin "make"))
     (list "close"  (list :go-builtin "close"))
-    (list "after"  (list :go-builtin "after"))))
+    (list "after"  (list :go-builtin "after"))
+    (list "panic"  (list :go-builtin "panic"))
+    (list "recover" (list :go-builtin "recover"))))
 
 (define
   go-env-lookup
@@ -48,6 +50,27 @@
       (not (= (len x) 0))
       (= (first x) :eval-error))))
 
+(define
+  go-panic?
+  (fn (x)
+    (and (list? x) (not (= (len x) 0)) (= (first x) :go-panic))))
+
+(define
+  go-find-raised-panic-cell
+  ;; Env is a list of (NAME VALUE) pairs. Find the first one whose
+  ;; name is "__go-panic-cell" AND whose state slot is :raised.
+  ;; Returns the cell (so recover() can mutate it) or nil.
+  (fn (env)
+    (cond
+      (or (= env nil) (= (len env) 0)) nil
+      :else
+      (let ((b (first env)))
+        (cond
+          (and (= (first b) "__go-panic-cell")
+               (= (nth (nth b 1) 0) :raised))
+          (nth b 1)
+          :else (go-find-raised-panic-cell (rest env)))))))
+
 ;; ── literal parsing ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 (define
@@ -402,6 +425,27 @@
         ;; with-timeout patterns express the intent even though we
         ;; don't model real time yet.
         (let ((ch (go-make-chan))) (go-chan-send! ch :tick) ch)
+        (= name "panic")
+        ;; Returns a panic sentinel — propagated like :return-value
+        ;; through statements/blocks; trapped by the enclosing frame
+        ;; to drain defers, then either consumed by recover() or
+        ;; re-raised. nil panic value is the implicit "nil panic".
+        (cond
+          (not (= (len vals) 1))
+          (list :eval-error :builtin-arity name 1 (len vals))
+          :else (list :go-panic (first vals)))
+        (= name "recover")
+        ;; Walks env chain for the *outermost* panic cell currently
+        ;; in :raised state — this is the panicking frame's cell,
+        ;; reached through the deferred-call invocation chain.
+        ;; Flips it to :recovered, returns V. Returns nil if no
+        ;; panic is in flight.
+        (let ((cell (go-find-raised-panic-cell caller-env)))
+          (cond
+            (= cell nil) nil
+            :else
+            (let ((v (nth cell 1)))
+              (do (set-nth! cell 0 :recovered) v))))
         :else (list :eval-error :unknown-builtin name)))))
 
 (define
@@ -562,22 +606,37 @@
                 :else
                 (let ((call-env
                         (go-bind-names caller-env param-names arg-vals)))
-                  ;; Install a fresh defer stack for this call frame.
-                  ;; Mutated by go-eval-defer-stmt via append!; drained
-                  ;; LIFO before the call returns. Replaces any outer
-                  ;; frame's stack (defers are frame-local).
-                  (let ((defer-stack (list)))
+                  ;; Install a fresh defer stack + panic cell for this
+                  ;; frame. Panic cell is (list STATE VALUE): :none if
+                  ;; nothing happened, :raised V if body panicked,
+                  ;; :recovered if a defer called recover() to swallow.
+                  (let ((defer-stack (list))
+                        (panic-cell (list :none nil)))
                     (let ((frame-env
                             (go-env-extend
-                              call-env "__go-defer-stack" defer-stack)))
+                              (go-env-extend
+                                call-env "__go-defer-stack" defer-stack)
+                              "__go-panic-cell" panic-cell)))
                       (cond
                         (= body nil)
                         (do (go-run-defers! frame-env defer-stack) nil)
                         (and (list? body) (= (first body) :block))
                         (let ((r (go-eval-block frame-env (nth body 1))))
                           (do
+                            ;; If body panicked, stash value before
+                            ;; defers run so recover() can see it.
+                            (cond
+                              (go-panic? r)
+                              (do (set-nth! panic-cell 0 :raised)
+                                  (set-nth! panic-cell 1 (nth r 1)))
+                              :else nil)
                             (go-run-defers! frame-env defer-stack)
                             (cond
+                              ;; Recover called during defers — swallow.
+                              (= (nth panic-cell 0) :recovered) nil
+                              ;; Still raised after defers — propagate.
+                              (= (nth panic-cell 0) :raised)
+                              (list :go-panic (nth panic-cell 1))
                               (and (list? r) (= (first r) :return-value))
                               (nth r 1)
                               (go-eval-error? r) r
@@ -931,7 +990,7 @@
           :else r))
       (and (list? stmt) (= (first stmt) :range-for))
       (go-eval-range-for env stmt)
-      :else (let ((v (go-eval env stmt))) (cond (go-eval-error? v) v :else env)))))
+      :else (let ((v (go-eval env stmt))) (cond (go-eval-error? v) v (go-panic? v) v :else env)))))
 
 (define
   go-select-try-case
@@ -1313,21 +1372,36 @@
           r
           (go-eval-error? r)
           r
+          (go-panic? r)
+          r
           :else (go-eval-block r (rest stmts)))))))
 
 (define
   go-eval-program
-  ;; Top-level driver. The "implicit main frame" gets its own defer
-  ;; stack so `defer` at top level (which is what most runtime tests
-  ;; use) behaves like deferring in main. The stack is drained after
-  ;; all forms run.
+  ;; Top-level driver = implicit main frame. Gets its own defer stack
+  ;; and panic cell so `defer` and `recover()` at top level behave
+  ;; like inside main(). Panic that escapes top-level surfaces as
+  ;; the program's return value (tests use this to assert uncaught
+  ;; panics).
   (fn (env forms)
-    (let ((defer-stack (list)))
-      (let ((env (go-env-extend env "__go-defer-stack" defer-stack)))
+    (let ((defer-stack (list))
+          (panic-cell (list :none nil)))
+      (let ((env (go-env-extend
+                   (go-env-extend env "__go-defer-stack" defer-stack)
+                   "__go-panic-cell" panic-cell)))
         (let ((r (go-eval-program-loop env forms)))
           (do
+            (cond
+              (go-panic? r)
+              (do (set-nth! panic-cell 0 :raised)
+                  (set-nth! panic-cell 1 (nth r 1)))
+              :else nil)
             (go-run-defers! env defer-stack)
-            r))))))
+            (cond
+              (= (nth panic-cell 0) :recovered) env
+              (= (nth panic-cell 0) :raised)
+              (list :go-panic (nth panic-cell 1))
+              :else r)))))))
 
 (define
   go-eval-program-loop
@@ -1343,6 +1417,8 @@
           r
           (go-eval-error? r)
           r
+          (go-panic? r)
+          r
           :else (go-eval-program-loop r (rest forms)))))))
 
 (define
diff --git a/lib/go/scoreboard.json b/lib/go/scoreboard.json
index 7fa980ef..f4fc9971 100644
--- a/lib/go/scoreboard.json
+++ b/lib/go/scoreboard.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "language": "go",
-  "total_pass": 503,
-  "total": 503,
+  "total_pass": 509,
+  "total": 509,
   "suites": [
     {"name":"lex","pass":129,"total":129,"status":"ok"},
     {"name":"parse","pass":176,"total":176,"status":"ok"},
     {"name":"types","pass":72,"total":72,"status":"ok"},
-    {"name":"eval","pass":86,"total":86,"status":"ok"},
+    {"name":"eval","pass":92,"total":92,"status":"ok"},
     {"name":"runtime","pass":40,"total":40,"status":"ok"},
     {"name":"stdlib","pass":0,"total":0,"status":"pending"},
     {"name":"e2e","pass":0,"total":0,"status":"pending"}
diff --git a/lib/go/scoreboard.md b/lib/go/scoreboard.md
index aaa9579f..067828cb 100644
--- a/lib/go/scoreboard.md
+++ b/lib/go/scoreboard.md
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 # Go-on-SX Scoreboard
 
-**Total: 503 / 503 tests passing**
+**Total: 509 / 509 tests passing**
 
 |  | Suite | Pass | Total |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | ✅ | lex | 129 | 129 |
 | ✅ | parse | 176 | 176 |
 | ✅ | types | 72 | 72 |
-| ✅ | eval | 86 | 86 |
+| ✅ | eval | 92 | 92 |
 | ✅ | runtime | 40 | 40 |
 | ⬜ | stdlib | 0 | 0 |
 | ⬜ | e2e | 0 | 0 |
diff --git a/lib/go/tests/eval.sx b/lib/go/tests/eval.sx
index b696ee6d..e3808920 100644
--- a/lib/go/tests/eval.sx
+++ b/lib/go/tests/eval.sx
@@ -516,6 +516,48 @@
       (go-env-lookup env "e")))
   (list 3 2 1 0))
 
+(go-eval-test
+  "panic: uncaught panic surfaces as (:go-panic V) from program"
+  (let
+    ((r (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "panic(\"boom\")")))))
+    r)
+  (list :go-panic "boom"))
+
+(go-eval-test
+  "panic inside fn: surfaces from fn call too"
+  (let
+    ((r (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "func boom() { panic(\"oops\") }") (go-parse "boom()")))))
+    r)
+  (list :go-panic "oops"))
+
+(go-eval-test
+  "recover: deferred recover swallows panic, fn returns normally"
+  (let
+    ((env (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "func safe() { defer recover() ; panic(\"x\") }") (go-parse "safe()") (go-parse "after := 42")))))
+    (go-env-lookup env "after"))
+  42)
+
+(go-eval-test
+  "recover: deferred recover captures the panic value"
+  (let
+    ((env (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "ch := make()") (go-parse "func grab(c chan int) { r := recover() ; c <- r }") (go-parse "func safe(c chan int) { defer grab(c) ; panic(99) }") (go-parse "safe(ch)") (go-parse "got := <-ch")))))
+    (go-env-lookup env "got"))
+  99)
+
+(go-eval-test
+  "panic: propagates through intermediate frames without defers"
+  (let
+    ((r (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "func inner() { panic(\"deep\") }") (go-parse "func middle() { inner() }") (go-parse "func outer() { middle() }") (go-parse "outer()")))))
+    r)
+  (list :go-panic "deep"))
+
+(go-eval-test
+  "recover: middle-frame defer catches panic from deeper frame"
+  (let
+    ((env (go-eval-program go-env-builtins (list (go-parse "func inner() { panic(\"deep\") }") (go-parse "func middle() { inner() }") (go-parse "func outer() { defer recover() ; middle() }") (go-parse "outer()") (go-parse "after := 7")))))
+    (go-env-lookup env "after"))
+  7)
+
 (define
   go-eval-test-summary
   (str "eval " go-eval-test-pass "/" go-eval-test-count))
diff --git a/plans/go-on-sx.md b/plans/go-on-sx.md
index 95b8d24a..2b82eff3 100644
--- a/plans/go-on-sx.md
+++ b/plans/go-on-sx.md
@@ -359,8 +359,12 @@ Progress-log line → push `origin/loops/go`.
 - [x] Defer stack per function frame; runs LIFO on normal return.
       Args eager at defer-time; frame-local (inner defers don't run
       outer ones); defer-in-loop pushes each iteration. 6 tests.
-- [ ] `panic(v)` unwinds frames running deferreds; `recover()` inside a
-      deferred fn captures the panic value and stops unwinding.
+- [x] `panic(v)` unwinds frames running deferreds; `recover()` inside a
+      deferred fn captures the panic value and stops unwinding. Panic
+      sentinel `(:go-panic V)` propagates through go-eval-block /
+      go-eval-stmt / go-eval-program-loop. Per-frame panic cell
+      `(STATE V)` flips :none → :raised → :recovered; recover walks
+      env chain finding the outermost :raised cell. 6 tests on eval/.
 - Goroutine panic propagation: a panicking goroutine that doesn't recover
   crashes the whole program (honour Go spec, or document divergence).
 - Tests: defer order (LIFO), defer + named-return mutation, panic/recover,
@@ -611,6 +615,24 @@ Minimal repro: see `lib/go/lex.sx#gl-oct-digit?` and `#gl-match-op`.
 
 _Newest first. Append one dated entry per commit._
 
+- 2026-05-27 — **Phase 6: panic + recover.** `panic` and `recover`
+  builtins. Panic sentinel `(:go-panic V)` propagates like
+  `:return-value` through stmt/block/program-loop. Each call frame
+  gets its own `__go-panic-cell` of shape `(STATE V)`; on body panic
+  the cell flips to `:raised V` BEFORE defers drain so `recover()`
+  can find it. `recover` walks the env chain looking for the
+  outermost `:raised` cell (so deferred calls invoked from a
+  panicking frame still see that frame's cell despite their own
+  nested cell shadowing it). Flips to `:recovered` and returns V;
+  the panicking frame then returns normally instead of propagating.
+  6 tests: uncaught surfaces from program, panic from fn surfaces,
+  defer-recover swallows, defer-recover captures value via channel,
+  propagation through 3-deep no-defer chain, middle frame catches
+  panic from deeper. 509/509 total. **Shape:** the panic cell is
+  a *frame-attached out-of-band channel* that survives across the
+  function boundary because env-chain lookup can walk past
+  shadowed bindings to find it. Same primitive will serve as the
+  scheduler kit's "cleanup-with-error-context" hook. [shapes-scheduler]
 - 2026-05-27 — **Phase 6 first slice: defer + LIFO.** Added
   `go-eval-defer-stmt`, `go-run-defers!`, `go-run-defers-prefix!`,
   plus new `:quoted-value` AST node so deferred calls can be
diff --git a/plans/lib-guest-scheduler.md b/plans/lib-guest-scheduler.md
index 44d89e02..b8f0dda8 100644
--- a/plans/lib-guest-scheduler.md
+++ b/plans/lib-guest-scheduler.md
@@ -231,6 +231,40 @@ real result.
 
 _Newest first. Append one dated entry per milestone landed._
 
+- 2026-05-27 — **Phase 6: panic/recover shape lands.** The panic
+  cell is the missing piece. It's a per-frame mutable record of
+  shape `(STATE VALUE)` carrying one of `:none` / `:raised` /
+  `:recovered`. Three properties matter for the scheduler kit:
+
+    1. **It survives the function boundary** via env-chain lookup —
+       when a deferred call's own frame creates a shadowing cell,
+       `recover()` walks past it to find the OUTER frame's cell (the
+       one that's `:raised`). This is the same mechanism the
+       scheduler will need when a panic-unwinding goroutine has
+       multiple frames each carrying their own state, and the
+       "current panic" must be locatable from any depth.
+
+    2. **It flips state in place** (`set-nth!`) so that the change
+       made by `recover()` deep in a defer chain is visible to the
+       enclosing frame's exit check. The scheduler kit needs the
+       same pattern: a goroutine's "termination reason" must be
+       writable by any frame in its stack.
+
+    3. **It's distinct from the return-value channel.** A frame can
+       carry both `(:go-panic V)` from its body AND a recovery
+       commitment in its panic cell; they're checked in sequence.
+       For the scheduler this maps to: a goroutine carries both its
+       running-state (channel-blocked, ready, sleeping) AND its
+       termination-record (panic V / clean exit / killed) — two
+       orthogonal slots, not one tag.
+
+  Concrete kit hint: every frame record should expose
+  `frame-panic-cell` alongside `frame-defer-queue`. The scheduler's
+  exit-path becomes: drain defers (cell may flip :raised→:recovered)
+  → consult cell → either propagate or return clean. Erlang's
+  `try/catch/after` decomposes identically: `after` is the defer
+  queue, `catch` is the recover-via-cell mechanism.
+
 - 2026-05-27 — **Phase 6 first slice: defer + LIFO observation.**
   Go's defer is a *frame-local cleanup queue* — a list of (callee,
   pre-evaluated-args) records appended on `defer`, drained LIFO at