diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/emit.c b/tools/qfcc/source/emit.c
index fccdec5e4..8a7540df4 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/emit.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/emit.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ add_statement_def_ref (def_t *def, dstatement_t *st, int field)
 			free_def (a);
 		}
 		if (alias_depth > 1) {
-			bug (&alias_depth_expr, "alias chain detected: %d %s",
+			internal_error (&alias_depth_expr, "alias chain detected: %d %s",
 				 alias_depth, def->name);
 		}
 		if (offset_reloc)
diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c b/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
index 147325b1c..a693e50ca 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
@@ -784,6 +784,12 @@ expr_alias (sblock_t *sblock, expr_t *e, operand_t **op)
 	*op = new_operand (op_alias);
 	(*op)->type = low_level_type (e->e.expr.type);
 	sblock = statement_subexpr (sblock, e->e.expr.e1, &(*op)->o.alias);
+	while ((*op)->o.alias->op_type == op_alias) {
+		operand_t  *top = (*op)->o.alias;
+		(*op)->o.alias = (*op)->o.alias->o.alias;
+		top->type = op_symbol;	// so free_operand won't follow the alias
+		free_operand (top);
+	}
 	return sblock;
 }