diff --git a/vm/src/core/dead_code.rs b/vm/src/core/dead_code.rs
index ca73a58b20..6af6fc5849 100644
--- a/vm/src/core/dead_code.rs
+++ b/vm/src/core/dead_code.rs
@@ -10,22 +10,60 @@ use base::{
 
 use crate::core::{
     self,
-    optimize::{walk_expr, walk_expr_alloc, SameLifetime, Visitor},
-    Allocator, CExpr, Expr, LetBinding,
+    optimize::{walk_expr, walk_expr_alloc, DifferentLifetime, SameLifetime, Visitor},
+    Allocator, CExpr, Expr, LetBinding, Named, Pattern,
 };
 
+fn is_pure_simple(expr: CExpr) -> bool {
+    pub struct SimplePure(bool);
+
+    impl<'l, 'expr> Visitor<'l, 'expr> for SimplePure {
+        type Producer = DifferentLifetime<'l, 'expr>;
+
+        fn visit_expr(&mut self, expr: CExpr<'expr>) -> Option<CExpr<'l>> {
+            if !self.0 {
+                return None;
+            }
+            match *expr {
+                Expr::Call(..) => {
+                    self.0 = false;
+                    None
+                }
+                Expr::Let(ref bind, expr) => {
+                    match bind.expr {
+                        // Creating a group of closures is always pure (though calling them may not be)
+                        Named::Recursive(_) => (),
+                        Named::Expr(expr) => {
+                            self.visit_expr(expr);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    self.visit_expr(expr)
+                }
+                _ => walk_expr_alloc(self, expr),
+            }
+        }
+        fn detach_allocator(&self) -> Option<&'l Allocator<'l>> {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut visitor = SimplePure(true);
+    visitor.visit_expr(expr);
+    visitor.0
+}
+
 pub fn dead_code_elimination<'a>(allocator: &'a Allocator<'a>, expr: CExpr<'a>) -> CExpr<'a> {
-    struct FreeVars<'a> {
+    struct DeadCodeEliminator<'a> {
         allocator: &'a Allocator<'a>,
         used_bindings: FnvSet<&'a SymbolRef>,
     }
-    impl FreeVars<'_> {
+    impl DeadCodeEliminator<'_> {
         fn is_used(&self, s: &Symbol) -> bool {
             self.used_bindings.contains(&**s)
         }
     }
 
-    impl<'e> Visitor<'e, 'e> for FreeVars<'e> {
+    impl<'e> Visitor<'e, 'e> for DeadCodeEliminator<'e> {
         type Producer = SameLifetime<'e>;
 
         fn visit_expr(&mut self, expr: CExpr<'e>) -> Option<CExpr<'e>> {
@@ -69,6 +107,26 @@ pub fn dead_code_elimination<'a>(allocator: &'a Allocator<'a>, expr: CExpr<'a>)
                         &*self.allocator.arena.alloc(Expr::Let(bind, body))
                     })
                 }
+
+                Expr::Match(scrutinee, alts) if alts.len() == 1 => match &alts[0].pattern {
+                    Pattern::Record(fields) => {
+                        if !is_pure_simple(scrutinee)
+                            || fields
+                                .iter()
+                                .map(|(x, y)| y.as_ref().unwrap_or(&x.name))
+                                .any(|field_bind| self.is_used(&field_bind))
+                        {
+                            walk_expr_alloc(self, expr)
+                        } else {
+                            Some(
+                                self.visit_expr(alts[0].expr)
+                                    .unwrap_or_else(|| alts[0].expr),
+                            )
+                        }
+                    }
+                    _ => walk_expr_alloc(self, expr),
+                },
+
                 _ => walk_expr_alloc(self, expr),
             }
         }
@@ -77,7 +135,7 @@ pub fn dead_code_elimination<'a>(allocator: &'a Allocator<'a>, expr: CExpr<'a>)
         }
     }
 
-    let mut free_vars = FreeVars {
+    let mut free_vars = DeadCodeEliminator {
         allocator,
         used_bindings: DepGraph::default().used_bindings(expr),
     };
@@ -224,4 +282,40 @@ mod tests {
             "#;
         check_optimization(initial_str, expected_str, dead_code_elimination);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn eliminate_redundant_match() {
+        let initial_str = r#"
+            match { x = 1 } with
+            | { x } -> 1
+            end
+            "#;
+        let expected_str = r#"
+            1
+            "#;
+        check_optimization(initial_str, expected_str, dead_code_elimination);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn dont_eliminate_used_match() {
+        let initial_str = r#"
+            rec let f y = y
+            in
+            let x = f 123
+            in
+            match { x } with
+            | { x } -> x
+            end
+            "#;
+        let expected_str = r#"
+            rec let f y = y
+            in
+            let x = f 123
+            in
+            match { x } with
+            | { x } -> x
+            end
+            "#;
+        check_optimization(initial_str, expected_str, dead_code_elimination);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/vm/src/core/mod.rs b/vm/src/core/mod.rs
index 414aabb209..2ebe3f10f2 100644
--- a/vm/src/core/mod.rs
+++ b/vm/src/core/mod.rs
@@ -1910,6 +1910,14 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     fn expr_eq(map: &mut HashMap<Symbol, Symbol>, l: &Expr, r: &Expr) -> bool {
+        let b = expr_eq_(map, l, r);
+        if !b {
+            eprintln!("{} != {}", l, r);
+        }
+        b
+    }
+
+    fn expr_eq_(map: &mut HashMap<Symbol, Symbol>, l: &Expr, r: &Expr) -> bool {
         match (l, r) {
             (&Expr::Match(_, l_alts), &Expr::Match(_, r_alts)) => {
                 for (l, r) in l_alts.iter().zip(r_alts) {
@@ -1952,7 +1960,20 @@ mod tests {
             (&Expr::Ident(ref l, _), &Expr::Ident(ref r, _)) => check(map, &l.name, &r.name),
             (&Expr::Let(ref lb, l), &Expr::Let(ref rb, r)) => {
                 let b = match (&lb.expr, &rb.expr) {
-                    (&Named::Expr(le), &Named::Expr(re)) => expr_eq(map, le, re),
+                    (Named::Expr(le), Named::Expr(re)) => expr_eq(map, le, re),
+                    (Named::Recursive(lc), Named::Recursive(rc)) => {
+                        lc.len() == rc.len()
+                            && lc.iter().zip(rc).all(|(lc, rc)| {
+                                check(map, &lc.name.name, &rc.name.name)
+                                    && lc.args.len() == rc.args.len()
+                                    && lc
+                                        .args
+                                        .iter()
+                                        .zip(&rc.args)
+                                        .all(|(l, r)| check(map, &l.name, &r.name))
+                                    && expr_eq(map, lc.expr, rc.expr)
+                            })
+                    }
                     _ => false,
                 };
                 check(map, &lb.name.name, &rb.name.name) && b && expr_eq(map, l, r)