diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f60cfcc1..5f0c9979 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ llvm_map_components_to_libnames(LLVM_LIBS
     Remarks
     ScalarOpts
     Support
+    Symbolize
     Target
     TransformUtils
     Vectorize
diff --git a/codon/app/main.cpp b/codon/app/main.cpp
index 5a23e45e..7fffcb1c 100644
--- a/codon/app/main.cpp
+++ b/codon/app/main.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ int docMode(const std::vector<const char *> &args, const std::string &argv0) {
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<codon::Compiler> processSource(const std::vector<const char *> &args) {
+std::unique_ptr<codon::Compiler> processSource(const std::vector<const char *> &args,
+                                               bool standalone) {
   llvm::cl::opt<std::string> input(llvm::cl::Positional, llvm::cl::desc("<input file>"),
                                    llvm::cl::init("-"));
   llvm::cl::opt<OptMode> optMode(
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<codon::Compiler> processSource(const std::vector<const char *> &
   const bool isDebug = (optMode == OptMode::Debug);
   std::vector<std::string> disabledOptsVec(disabledOpts);
   auto compiler = std::make_unique<codon::Compiler>(args[0], isDebug, disabledOptsVec);
+  compiler->getLLVMVisitor()->setStandalone(standalone);
 
   // load plugins
   for (const auto &plugin : plugins) {
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ int runMode(const std::vector<const char *> &args) {
       "l", llvm::cl::desc("Load and link the specified library"));
   llvm::cl::list<std::string> seqArgs(llvm::cl::ConsumeAfter,
                                       llvm::cl::desc("<program arguments>..."));
-  auto compiler = processSource(args);
+  auto compiler = processSource(args, /*standalone=*/false);
   if (!compiler)
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   std::vector<std::string> libsVec(libs);
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ int buildMode(const std::vector<const char *> &args) {
           "Write compiled output to specified file. Supported extensions: "
           "none (executable), .o (object file), .ll (LLVM IR), .bc (LLVM bitcode)"));
 
-  auto compiler = processSource(args);
+  auto compiler = processSource(args, /*standalone=*/true);
   if (!compiler)
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   std::vector<std::string> libsVec(libs);
diff --git a/codon/compiler/compiler.cpp b/codon/compiler/compiler.cpp
index b9337162..55e8153f 100644
--- a/codon/compiler/compiler.cpp
+++ b/codon/compiler/compiler.cpp
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ Compiler::Compiler(const std::string &argv0, bool debug,
       module(std::make_unique<ir::Module>()),
       pm(std::make_unique<ir::transform::PassManager>(debug && !isTest,
                                                       disabledPasses)),
-      llvisitor(std::make_unique<ir::LLVMVisitor>(debug)) {
+      llvisitor(std::make_unique<ir::LLVMVisitor>()) {
   cache->module = module.get();
   module->setCache(cache.get());
+  llvisitor->setDebug(debug);
   llvisitor->setPluginManager(plm.get());
 }
 
diff --git a/codon/compiler/jit.cpp b/codon/compiler/jit.cpp
index 7a6574f2..c3886a69 100644
--- a/codon/compiler/jit.cpp
+++ b/codon/compiler/jit.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ llvm::Expected<std::string> JIT::run(const ir::Func *input,
   try {
     CaptureOutput(buffer.rdbuf());
     (*repl)();
-  } catch (const seq_jit_error &err) {
+  } catch (const JITError &err) {
     return llvm::make_error<error::RuntimeErrorInfo>(err.getOutput(), err.getType(),
                                                      err.what(), err.getFile(),
                                                      err.getLine(), err.getCol());
diff --git a/codon/runtime/exc.cpp b/codon/runtime/exc.cpp
index 68c55a57..90f30cc9 100644
--- a/codon/runtime/exc.cpp
+++ b/codon/runtime/exc.cpp
@@ -7,10 +7,14 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <mutex>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#define UNW_LOCAL_ONLY
+#include <libunwind.h>
+
 struct BacktraceFrame {
   char *function;
   char *filename;
@@ -42,6 +46,8 @@ struct Backtrace {
     frames[count++] = {functionDup, filenameDup, pc, lineno};
   }
 
+  void push_back(uintptr_t pc) { push_back("<invalid>", "<invalid>", pc, 0); }
+
   void free() {
     for (auto i = 0; i < count; i++) {
       auto *frame = &frames[i];
@@ -55,7 +61,7 @@ struct Backtrace {
 };
 
 void seq_backtrace_error_callback(void *data, const char *msg, int errnum) {
-  // nothing to do
+  // printf("seq_backtrace_error_callback: %s (errnum = %d)\n", msg, errnum);
 }
 
 int seq_backtrace_full_callback(void *data, uintptr_t pc, const char *filename,
@@ -140,6 +146,7 @@ static void seq_delete_unwind_exc(_Unwind_Reason_Code reason,
 }
 
 static struct backtrace_state *state = nullptr;
+static std::mutex stateLock;
 
 SEQ_FUNC void *seq_alloc_exc(int type, void *obj) {
   const size_t size = sizeof(OurException);
@@ -152,11 +159,33 @@ SEQ_FUNC void *seq_alloc_exc(int type, void *obj) {
   if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG) {
     e->bt.frames = nullptr;
     e->bt.count = 0;
-    if (!state)
-      state = backtrace_create_state(/*filename=*/nullptr, /*threaded=*/0,
+
+    if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_STANDALONE) {
+      if (!state) {
+        stateLock.lock();
+        if (!state)
+          state =
+              backtrace_create_state(/*filename=*/nullptr, /*threaded=*/1,
                                      seq_backtrace_error_callback, /*data=*/nullptr);
-    backtrace_full(state, /*skip=*/1, seq_backtrace_full_callback,
-                   seq_backtrace_error_callback, &e->bt);
+        stateLock.unlock();
+      }
+      backtrace_full(state, /*skip=*/1, seq_backtrace_full_callback,
+                     seq_backtrace_error_callback, &e->bt);
+    } else {
+      unw_cursor_t cursor;
+      unw_context_t context;
+
+      unw_getcontext(&context);
+      unw_init_local(&cursor, &context);
+
+      while (unw_step(&cursor) > 0) {
+        unw_word_t pc;
+        unw_get_reg(&cursor, UNW_REG_IP, &pc);
+        if (pc == 0)
+          break;
+        e->bt.push_back(pc);
+      }
+    }
   }
   return &(e->unwindException);
 }
@@ -209,7 +238,7 @@ SEQ_FUNC void seq_terminate(void *exc) {
   }
   buf << "\n";
 
-  if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG) {
+  if ((seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG) && (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_STANDALONE)) {
     auto *bt = &base->bt;
     if (bt->count > 0) {
       buf << "\n\033[1mBacktrace:\033[0m\n";
@@ -223,14 +252,23 @@ SEQ_FUNC void seq_terminate(void *exc) {
   }
 
   auto output = buf.str();
-  if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_JIT) {
+  if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_STANDALONE) {
+    fwrite(output.data(), 1, output.size(), stderr);
+    abort();
+  } else {
+    auto *bt = &base->bt;
     std::string msg(hdr->msg.str, hdr->msg.len);
     std::string file(hdr->file.str, hdr->file.len);
     std::string type(hdr->type.str, hdr->type.len);
-    throw seq_jit_error(output, msg, type, file, (int)hdr->line, (int)hdr->col);
-  } else {
-    fwrite(output.data(), 1, output.size(), stderr);
-    abort();
+
+    std::vector<uintptr_t> backtrace;
+    if (seq_flags & SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG) {
+      for (unsigned i = 0; i < bt->count; i++) {
+        backtrace.push_back(bt->frames[i].pc);
+      }
+    }
+    throw codon::JITError(output, msg, type, file, (int)hdr->line, (int)hdr->col,
+                          backtrace);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/codon/runtime/lib.h b/codon/runtime/lib.h
index c479fa67..687d176e 100644
--- a/codon/runtime/lib.h
+++ b/codon/runtime/lib.h
@@ -7,19 +7,16 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 #include <unwind.h>
+#include <vector>
 
-#define SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG (1 << 0)
-#define SEQ_FLAG_JIT (1 << 1)
+#define SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG (1 << 0)      // compiled/running in debug mode
+#define SEQ_FLAG_JIT (1 << 1)        // compiled/running in JIT mode
+#define SEQ_FLAG_STANDALONE (1 << 2) // compiled as a standalone object/binary
 
 #define SEQ_FUNC extern "C"
 
 typedef int64_t seq_int_t;
 
-struct seq_t {
-  seq_int_t len;
-  char *seq;
-};
-
 struct seq_str_t {
   seq_int_t len;
   char *str;
@@ -80,24 +77,28 @@ SEQ_FUNC void *seq_rlock_new();
 SEQ_FUNC bool seq_rlock_acquire(void *lock, bool block, double timeout);
 SEQ_FUNC void seq_rlock_release(void *lock);
 
-class seq_jit_error : public std::runtime_error {
+namespace codon {
+class JITError : public std::runtime_error {
 private:
   std::string output;
   std::string type;
   std::string file;
   int line;
   int col;
+  std::vector<uintptr_t> backtrace;
 
 public:
-  explicit seq_jit_error(const std::string &output, const std::string &what,
-                         const std::string &type, const std::string &file, int line,
-                         int col)
+  JITError(const std::string &output, const std::string &what, const std::string &type,
+           const std::string &file, int line, int col,
+           std::vector<uintptr_t> backtrace = {})
       : std::runtime_error(what), output(output), type(type), file(file), line(line),
-        col(col) {}
+        col(col), backtrace(std::move(backtrace)) {}
 
   std::string getOutput() const { return output; }
   std::string getType() const { return type; }
   std::string getFile() const { return file; }
   int getLine() const { return line; }
   int getCol() const { return col; }
+  std::vector<uintptr_t> getBacktrace() const { return backtrace; }
 };
+} // namespace codon
diff --git a/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.cpp b/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.cpp
index 848a10bf..9f63ba55 100644
--- a/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.cpp
+++ b/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "llvisitor.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <cctype>
+#include <cstdlib>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <utility>
@@ -27,11 +29,11 @@ llvm::DIFile *LLVMVisitor::DebugInfo::getFile(const std::string &path) {
   return builder->createFile(filename, directory);
 }
 
-LLVMVisitor::LLVMVisitor(bool debug, bool jit, const std::string &flags)
+LLVMVisitor::LLVMVisitor()
     : util::ConstVisitor(), context(std::make_unique<llvm::LLVMContext>()), M(),
       B(std::make_unique<llvm::IRBuilder<>>(*context)), func(nullptr), block(nullptr),
-      value(nullptr), vars(), funcs(), coro(), loops(), trycatch(),
-      db(debug, jit, flags), plugins(nullptr) {
+      value(nullptr), vars(), funcs(), coro(), loops(), trycatch(), db(),
+      plugins(nullptr) {
   llvm::InitializeAllTargets();
   llvm::InitializeAllTargetMCs();
   llvm::InitializeAllAsmPrinters();
@@ -376,6 +378,63 @@ void LLVMVisitor::compile(const std::string &filename,
   }
 }
 
+namespace {
+class DebugInfoListener : public llvm::JITEventListener {
+public:
+  std::pair<std::unique_ptr<llvm::object::ObjectFile>,
+            std::unique_ptr<llvm::MemoryBuffer>>
+      saved;
+  intptr_t start = 0;
+
+  void notifyObjectLoaded(ObjectKey key, const llvm::object::ObjectFile &obj,
+                          const llvm::RuntimeDyld::LoadedObjectInfo &L) override {
+    start = L.getSectionLoadAddress(*obj.section_begin());
+    saved = L.getObjectForDebug(obj).takeBinary();
+    if (!saved.first) {
+      auto buf = llvm::MemoryBuffer::getMemBufferCopy(obj.getData(), obj.getFileName());
+      auto newObj = llvm::cantFail(
+          llvm::object::ObjectFile::createObjectFile(buf->getMemBufferRef()));
+      saved = std::make_pair(std::move(newObj), std::move(buf));
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+std::string unmangleType(llvm::StringRef s) {
+  auto p = s.rsplit('.');
+  return (p.second.empty() ? p.first : p.second).str();
+}
+
+std::string unmangleFunc(llvm::StringRef s) {
+  // separate type and function
+  auto p = s.split(':');
+  llvm::StringRef func = s;
+  std::string type;
+  if (!p.second.empty()) {
+    type = unmangleType(p.first);
+    func = p.second;
+  }
+
+  // trim off ".<id>"
+  p = func.rsplit('.');
+  if (!p.second.empty() && p.second.find_if([](char c) { return !std::isdigit(c); }) ==
+                               llvm::StringRef::npos)
+    func = p.first;
+
+  // trim off generics
+  func = func.split('[').first;
+
+  // trim off qualified name
+  p = func.rsplit('.');
+  if (!p.second.empty())
+    func = p.second;
+
+  if (!type.empty())
+    return type + "." + func.str();
+  else
+    return func.str();
+}
+} // namespace
+
 void LLVMVisitor::run(const std::vector<std::string> &args,
                       const std::vector<std::string> &libs, const char *const *envp) {
   runLLVMPipeline();
@@ -384,14 +443,48 @@ void LLVMVisitor::run(const std::vector<std::string> &args,
   EB.setMCJITMemoryManager(std::make_unique<BoehmGCMemoryManager>());
   llvm::ExecutionEngine *eng = EB.create();
 
-  std::string err;
+  auto dbListener = std::unique_ptr<DebugInfoListener>();
+  if (db.debug) {
+    dbListener = std::make_unique<DebugInfoListener>();
+    eng->RegisterJITEventListener(dbListener.get());
+  }
+
   for (auto &lib : libs) {
+    std::string err;
     if (llvm::sys::DynamicLibrary::LoadLibraryPermanently(lib.c_str(), &err)) {
       compilationError(err);
     }
   }
 
-  eng->runFunctionAsMain(main, args, envp);
+  try {
+    eng->runFunctionAsMain(main, args, envp);
+  } catch (const JITError &e) {
+    fmt::print(stderr, "{}", e.getOutput());
+    if (db.debug) {
+      llvm::symbolize::LLVMSymbolizer sym;
+      auto invalid = [](const std::string &name) { return name == "<invalid>"; };
+
+      fmt::print(stderr, "\n\033[1mBacktrace:\033[0m\n");
+      auto base = dbListener->start;
+      for (auto pc : e.getBacktrace()) {
+        auto src = sym.symbolizeCode(
+            *dbListener->saved.first,
+            {pc - base, llvm::object::SectionedAddress::UndefSection});
+        if (auto err = src.takeError())
+          break;
+        if (invalid(src->FunctionName) || invalid(src->FileName))
+          continue;
+
+        auto func = unmangleFunc(src->FunctionName);
+        auto file = src->FileName;
+        auto line = src->Line;
+        auto col = src->Column;
+        fmt::print(stderr, "  [\033[33m0x{:016x}\033[0m] \033[32m{}\033[0m {}:{}:{}\n",
+                   pc, func, file, line, col);
+      }
+    }
+    std::abort();
+  }
   delete eng;
 }
 
@@ -625,7 +718,8 @@ void LLVMVisitor::visit(const Module *x) {
   llvm::Value *argStorage = getVar(x->getArgVar());
   seqassert(argStorage, "argument storage missing");
   B->CreateStore(arr, argStorage);
-  const int flags = (db.debug ? SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG : 0) | (db.jit ? SEQ_FLAG_JIT : 0);
+  const int flags = (db.debug ? SEQ_FLAG_DEBUG : 0) | (db.jit ? SEQ_FLAG_JIT : 0) |
+                    (db.standalone ? SEQ_FLAG_STANDALONE : 0);
   B->CreateCall(initFunc, B->getInt32(flags));
 
   // Put the entire program in a new function
diff --git a/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.h b/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.h
index 751da353..10b29797 100644
--- a/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.h
+++ b/codon/sir/llvm/llvisitor.h
@@ -98,11 +98,14 @@ private:
     bool debug;
     /// Whether we are compiling in JIT mode
     bool jit;
+    /// Whether we are compiling a standalone object/executable
+    bool standalone;
     /// Program command-line flags
     std::string flags;
 
-    DebugInfo(bool debug, bool jit, const std::string &flags)
-        : builder(), unit(nullptr), debug(debug), jit(jit), flags(flags) {}
+    DebugInfo()
+        : builder(), unit(nullptr), debug(false), jit(false), standalone(false),
+          flags() {}
 
     llvm::DIFile *getFile(const std::string &path);
 
@@ -223,11 +226,7 @@ public:
   }
 
   /// Constructs an LLVM visitor.
-  /// @param debug whether to compile in debug mode
-  /// @param jit whether to compile in JIT mode
-  /// @param flags command-line flags to be included in debug info
-  explicit LLVMVisitor(bool debug = false, bool jit = false,
-                       const std::string &flags = "");
+  LLVMVisitor();
 
   /// @return true if in debug mode, false otherwise
   bool getDebug() const { return db.debug; }
@@ -241,6 +240,12 @@ public:
   /// @param j true if JIT mode
   void setJIT(bool j = true) { db.jit = j; }
 
+  /// @return true if in standalone mode, false otherwise
+  bool getStandalone() const { return db.standalone; }
+  /// Sets standalone status.
+  /// @param s true if standalone
+  void setStandalone(bool s = true) { db.standalone = s; }
+
   /// @return program flags
   std::string getFlags() const { return db.flags; }
   /// Sets program flags.
diff --git a/codon/sir/llvm/llvm.h b/codon/sir/llvm/llvm.h
index d73ef056..d3e2f3e5 100644
--- a/codon/sir/llvm/llvm.h
+++ b/codon/sir/llvm/llvm.h
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@
 #include "llvm/Bitcode/BitcodeWriter.h"
 #include "llvm/CodeGen/MachineModuleInfo.h"
 #include "llvm/CodeGen/TargetPassConfig.h"
+#include "llvm/DebugInfo/Symbolize/Symbolize.h"
 #include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/ExecutionEngine.h"
 #include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/GenericValue.h"
+#include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/JITEventListener.h"
 #include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/JITSymbol.h"
 #include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/MCJIT.h"
 #include "llvm/ExecutionEngine/RuntimeDyld.h"