diff --git a/collects/honu/core/main.rkt b/collects/honu/core/main.rkt
index e3307a3f4e..ddc1b05567 100644
--- a/collects/honu/core/main.rkt
+++ b/collects/honu/core/main.rkt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
                                    [honu-function function]
                                    [honu-function fun]
                                    [honu-var var]
+                                   [honu-syntax-var syntax_var]
                                    [honu-== ==]
                                    [honu-not-equal !=]
                                    [honu--> %arrow]
diff --git a/collects/honu/core/private/honu2.rkt b/collects/honu/core/private/honu2.rkt
index 07e1017a69..bb8ed7ec80 100644
--- a/collects/honu/core/private/honu2.rkt
+++ b/collects/honu/core/private/honu2.rkt
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
      (debug "Parse expression ~a\n" (pretty-format (syntax->datum #'(stuff ...))))
      (define-values (parsed unparsed)
                     (parse #'(stuff ...)))
-     (with-syntax ([parsed* (honu->racket parsed)]
+     (with-syntax ([parsed* parsed]
                    [unparsed unparsed])
        (emit-local-step parsed #'parsed* #:id #'honu-parse-expression)
        (debug "Parsed ~a. Unparsed ~a\n" #'parsed #'unparsed)
@@ -411,6 +411,22 @@
               #:with (name ...) #'(variables.id ...)
               #:with expression #'one.result]))
 
+(begin-for-syntax
+  (provide honu-declaration/phase+1)
+
+  ;; parses a declaration
+  ;; var x = 9
+  ;; var a, b, c = values(1 + 2, 5, 9)
+  (define-splicing-syntax-class honu-declaration/phase+1
+                              #:literal-sets (cruft)
+                              #:literals (honu-syntax-var)
+     [pattern (~seq honu-syntax-var (~var variables (separate-ids (literal-syntax-class honu-comma)
+                                                           (literal-syntax-class honu-equal)))
+                    honu-equal one:honu-expression/phase+1)
+              #:with (name ...) #'(variables.id ...)
+              #:with expression #'one.result]))
+
+;; like define
 (provide honu-var)
 (define-honu-syntax honu-var
   (lambda (code)
@@ -421,6 +437,17 @@
          (racket-syntax (define-values (var.name ...) (let () var.expression))))
        (values result #'rest #t)])))
 
+;; like define-syntax
+(provide honu-syntax-var)
+(define-honu-syntax honu-syntax-var
+  (lambda (code)
+    (syntax-parse code #:literal-sets (cruft)
+      [(var:honu-declaration/phase+1 . rest)
+       (define result 
+         ;; wrap the expression in a let so that we can insert new `define-syntax'es
+         (racket-syntax (define-syntaxes (var.name ...) (let () var.expression))))
+       (values result #'rest #t)])))
+
 (provide (rename-out [honu-with-syntax withSyntax]))
 (define-honu-syntax honu-with-syntax
   (lambda (code)