diff --git a/blk/381 b/blk/381
index 12767c1..12b65f1 100644
--- a/blk/381
+++ b/blk/381
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-: EMIT
-    ( 0x53==(emit) override )
-    0x53 RAM+ @ ?DUP IF EXECUTE ELSE (emit) THEN ;
+SYSVARS 0x53 + :** EMIT
 : (print) C@+ ( a len ) 0 DO C@+ EMIT LOOP DROP ;
 : BS 8 EMIT ; : LF 10 EMIT ; : CR 13 EMIT ;
 : CRLF CR LF ; : SPC 32 EMIT ;
diff --git a/blk/387 b/blk/387
index d44789d..e88f70c 100644
--- a/blk/387
+++ b/blk/387
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@
 ;
 ( del is same as backspace )
 : BS? DUP 0x7f = SWAP 0x8 = OR ;
-
-: KEY
-    0x55 RAM+ @ ( (key) override )
-    ?DUP IF EXECUTE ELSE (key) THEN ;
+SYSVARS 0x55 + :** KEY
 ( cont.: read one char into input buffer and returns whether we
   should continue, that is, whether CR was not met. )
diff --git a/blk/396 b/blk/396
index aefaaa5..95d534f 100644
--- a/blk/396
+++ b/blk/396
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
     0x02 RAM+ CURRENT* !
     CURRENT @ 0x2e RAM+ ! ( 2e == BOOT C< PTR )
     0 0x08 RAM+ !  ( 08 == C<* override )
-    0 0x53 RAM+ !  ( 53 == (emit) override )
-    0 0x55 RAM+ !  ( 55 == (key) override )
+    ['] (emit) ['] EMIT **!
+    ['] (key) ['] KEY **!
     ['] CRLF ['] NL **!
     ( 0c == C<* )
     ['] (boot<) 0x0c RAM+ !
diff --git a/cvm/forth.bin b/cvm/forth.bin
index c8e06f8..d6d2875 100644
Binary files a/cvm/forth.bin and b/cvm/forth.bin differ
diff --git a/recipes/trs80/README.md b/recipes/trs80/README.md
index fbc9a30..c8e049c 100644
--- a/recipes/trs80/README.md
+++ b/recipes/trs80/README.md
@@ -233,14 +233,14 @@ blocks per disk.
 You'll need to send those blocks through RS-232. Begin by taking over the
 prompt:
 
-    ' *CL> 0x53 RAM+ !
-    ' *CL< 0x55 RAM+ !
+    ' *CL> ' EMIT **!
+    ' *CL< ' KEY **!
 
 See B80 for details about those RAM offsets. Your serial link now has the
 prompt. You will also have to make your newlines CRLF. The TRS-80 wants CR
 only, but serial communications (and `blkup`) expect CRLF:
 
-    ' CRLF 0x0a RAM+ !
+    ' CRLF ' NL **!
 
 Now, you can use `/tools/blkup` to send a disk's contents. First, 
 extract the first 100 blocks from blkfs:
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ own Collapse OS floppy set. See Usage guide (B3) for details.
 
 Once you're done, you will want to go back to local control:
 
-    ' CR 0x0a RAM+ !
-    0 0x55 RAM+ !
-    0 0x53 RAM+ !
+    ' CR ' NL **!
+    ' (emit) ' EMIT **!
+    ' (key) ' KEY **!
 
 ## Self-hosting
 
diff --git a/recipes/trs80/xcomp.fs b/recipes/trs80/xcomp.fs
index 40943f7..8a8c6cb 100644
--- a/recipes/trs80/xcomp.fs
+++ b/recipes/trs80/xcomp.fs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ RS_ADDR 0x80 - CONSTANT SYSVARS
 (entry) _
 ( Update LATEST )
 PC ORG @ 8 + !
-( 0x0a == NLPTR. TRS-80 wants CR-only newlines )
-," ' CR 0x0a RAM+ ! BLK$ FD$ " EOT,
+( TRS-80 wants CR-only newlines )
+," ' CR ' NL **! BLK$ FD$ " EOT,
 ORG @ 256 /MOD 2 PC! 2 PC!
 H@ 256 /MOD 2 PC! 2 PC!