Regarding 1st solution: Since this code is used to implement pseudo-vars that can be initialized and checked at compile time, inserting an layer of callsub *seems* like a high penalty to pay.

I tried using the "for" as a $_ specifier, but as soon as it was in the goto-target-func, the value was restored to the one in the outer loop.

The Internals fix looks like the right way to solve this, as it addresses the problem. However, I solved it by making use of a global, as it's less likely to break. With the current maintainers, the perl feature set is unstable (they yanked lexical $_ out of feature status and into experimental status in 5.18, and forced in a new feature that affects everyone in 5.18 without opting in (via "use 5.18" or use feature "xxx"). Releasing incompatible features in the production version of perl demonstrates their level of commitment to stable interfaces. Heaven knows what they would do to the Internal interfaces.

Didn't know "lvalue" was also experimental until last week -- as when I started using it, I followed its usage example in some CPAN code ... urg...