diff --git a/include/QF/progs.h b/include/QF/progs.h
index 628070307..7564ab36d 100644
--- a/include/QF/progs.h
+++ b/include/QF/progs.h
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ qboolean PR_EdictValid (progs_t *pr, int e);
 #define R_FUNCTION(p)	R_var (p, func)
 #define R_POINTER(p)	R_var (p, pointer)
 
-#define RETURN_STRING(p, s)		(R_STRING (p) = PR_SetString((p), s))
+#define RETURN_STRING(p, s)		(R_STRING (p) = PR_SetTempString((p), s))
 #define RETURN_EDICT(p, e)		(R_STRING (p) = EDICT_TO_PROG(p, e))
 #define RETURN_POINTER(pr,p)	(R_POINTER (pr) = POINTER_TO_PROG (pr, p))
 #define RETURN_VECTOR(p, v)		(VectorCopy (v, R_VECTOR (p)))
@@ -221,7 +221,12 @@ int PR_InitRuntime (progs_t *pr);
 
 qboolean PR_StringValid (progs_t *pr, int num);
 const char *PR_GetString(progs_t *pr, int num);
+struct dstring_s *PR_GetDString(progs_t *pr, int num);
 int PR_SetString(progs_t *pr, const char *s);
+int PR_SetTempString(progs_t *pr, const char *s);
+int PR_NewString (progs_t *pr);
+void PR_FreeString (progs_t *pr, int str);
+void PR_FreeTempStrings (progs_t *pr);
 void PR_GarbageCollect (progs_t *pr);
 
 //
@@ -282,14 +287,9 @@ void PR_Cmds_Init (progs_t *pr);
 typedef struct {
 	int         s;
 	dfunction_t *f;
+	struct strref_s *tstr;
 } prstack_t;
 
-typedef struct strref_s {
-	struct strref_s *next;
-	char *string;
-	int count;
-} strref_t;
-
 struct progs_s {
 	const char *progs_name;
 	dprograms_t *progs;
@@ -308,12 +308,14 @@ struct progs_s {
 	pr_load_func_t **load_funcs;
 
 	// garbage collected strings
-	strref_t   *static_strings;
-	strref_t  **dynamic_strings;
-	strref_t   *free_string_refs;
+	struct dstring_mem_s *ds_mem;
+	struct strref_s *static_strings;
+	struct strref_s **dynamic_strings;
+	struct strref_s *free_string_refs;
 	unsigned    dyn_str_size;
 	struct hashtab_s *strref_hash;
 	int         num_strings;
+	struct strref_s *pr_xtstr;
 
 	dfunction_t *pr_functions;
 	char       *pr_strings;
diff --git a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_exec.c b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_exec.c
index b06f9136c..a00cf9bde 100644
--- a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_exec.c
+++ b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_exec.c
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ PR_EnterFunction (progs_t * pr, dfunction_t *f)
 
 	pr->pr_xfunction = f;
 	pr->pr_xstatement = f->first_statement - 1;      		// offset the st++
+	pr->pr_xtstr = 0;
 	return;
 }
 
@@ -158,10 +159,14 @@ PR_LeaveFunction (progs_t * pr)
 			&pr->localstack[pr->localstack_used],
 			sizeof (pr_type_t) * c);
 
+	if (pr->pr_xtstr)
+		PR_FreeTempStrings (pr);
+
 	// up stack
 	pr->pr_depth--;
 	pr->pr_xfunction = pr->pr_stack[pr->pr_depth].f;
 	pr->pr_xstatement = pr->pr_stack[pr->pr_depth].s;
+	pr->pr_xtstr = pr->pr_stack[pr->pr_depth].tstr;
 }
 
 #define OPA (*op_a)
@@ -280,7 +285,7 @@ PR_ExecuteProgram (progs_t * pr, func_t fnum)
 					char *c = Hunk_TempAlloc (size);
 					strcpy (c, a);
 					strcpy (c + lena, b);
-					OPC.string_var = PR_SetString (pr, c);
+					OPC.string_var = PR_SetTempString (pr, c);
 				}
 				break;
 			case OP_SUB_F:
diff --git a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_load.c b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_load.c
index 54360dc89..3c98e794f 100644
--- a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_load.c
+++ b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_load.c
@@ -99,16 +99,14 @@ free_progs_mem (progs_t *pr, void *mem)
 void
 PR_LoadProgsFile (progs_t * pr, QFile *file, int size, int edicts, int zone)
 {
-	unsigned int i;
+	unsigned    i;
+	int         mem_size;
 	dprograms_t progs;
 
 	pr->progs = 0;
 	if (Qread (file, &progs, sizeof (progs)) != sizeof (progs))
 		PR_Error (pr, "error reading header");
 
-	pr->progs_size = size;
-	Sys_DPrintf ("Programs occupy %iK.\n", size / 1024);
-
 	// store prog crc
 	pr->crc = CRC_Block ((byte*)&progs, sizeof (progs));
 
@@ -137,6 +135,7 @@ PR_LoadProgsFile (progs_t * pr, QFile *file, int size, int edicts, int zone)
 
 	// size of progs themselves
 	pr->progs_size = size;
+	Sys_DPrintf ("Programs occupy %iK.\n", size / 1024);
 	// round off to next highest whole word address (esp for Alpha)
 	// this ensures that pointers in the engine data area are always
 	// properly aligned
@@ -174,10 +173,11 @@ PR_LoadProgsFile (progs_t * pr, QFile *file, int size, int edicts, int zone)
 	PR_Resources_Clear (pr);
 	if (pr->progs)
 		pr->free_progs_mem (pr, pr->progs);
-	pr->progs = pr->allocate_progs_mem (pr, pr->progs_size + pr->zone_size
-										+ pr->pr_edictareasize);
+	mem_size = pr->progs_size + pr->zone_size + pr->pr_edictareasize;
+	pr->progs = pr->allocate_progs_mem (pr, mem_size + 1);
 	if (!pr->progs)
 		return;
+	((byte *) pr->progs)[mem_size] = 0;
 
 	memcpy (pr->progs, &progs, sizeof (progs));
 	Qread (file, pr->progs + 1, size - sizeof (progs));
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ PR_LoadProgsFile (progs_t * pr, QFile *file, int size, int edicts, int zone)
 	pr->pr_functions =
 		(dfunction_t *) ((byte *) pr->progs + pr->progs->ofs_functions);
 	pr->pr_strings = (char *) pr->progs + pr->progs->ofs_strings;
-	pr->pr_stringsize = pr->progs->numstrings;
+	pr->pr_stringsize = (char *) pr->zone + pr->zone_size - (char *) pr->progs;
 	pr->pr_globaldefs =
 		(ddef_t *) ((byte *) pr->progs + pr->progs->ofs_globaldefs);
 	pr->pr_fielddefs =
diff --git a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_strings.c b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_strings.c
index 9f02d6336..57b7ae7ad 100644
--- a/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_strings.c
+++ b/libs/gamecode/engine/pr_strings.c
@@ -41,9 +41,37 @@ static __attribute__ ((unused)) const char rcsid[] =
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
+#include "QF/dstring.h"
 #include "QF/hash.h"
 #include "QF/progs.h"
 
+typedef struct strref_s {
+	struct strref_s *next;
+	char       *string;
+	dstring_t  *dstring;
+	int         count;
+} strref_t;
+
+static void *
+pr_strings_alloc (void *_pr, size_t size)
+{
+	progs_t    *pr = (progs_t *) _pr;
+	return PR_Zone_Malloc (pr, size);
+}
+
+static void
+pr_strings_free (void *_pr, void *ptr)
+{
+	progs_t    *pr = (progs_t *) _pr;
+	PR_Zone_Free (pr, ptr);
+}
+
+static void *
+pr_strings_realloc (void *_pr, void *ptr, size_t size)
+{
+	progs_t    *pr = (progs_t *) _pr;
+	return PR_Zone_Realloc (pr, ptr, size);
+}
 
 static strref_t *
 new_string_ref (progs_t *pr)
@@ -74,6 +102,7 @@ static void
 free_string_ref (progs_t *pr, strref_t *sr)
 {
 	sr->string = 0;
+	sr->dstring = 0;
 	sr->next = pr->free_string_refs;
 	pr->free_string_refs = sr;
 }
@@ -110,7 +139,7 @@ strref_free (void *_sr, void *_pr)
 
 	// free the string and ref only if it's not a static string
 	if (sr < pr->static_strings || sr >= pr->static_strings + pr->num_strings) {
-		free (sr->string);
+		PR_Zone_Free (pr, sr->string);
 		free_string_ref (pr, sr);
 	}
 }
@@ -126,6 +155,14 @@ PR_LoadStrings (progs_t *pr)
 		count++;
 		str += strlen (str) + 1;
 	}
+
+	if (!pr->ds_mem) {
+		pr->ds_mem = malloc (sizeof (dstring_mem_t));
+		pr->ds_mem->alloc = pr_strings_alloc;
+		pr->ds_mem->free = pr_strings_free;
+		pr->ds_mem->realloc = pr_strings_realloc;
+		pr->ds_mem->data = pr;
+	}
 	if (pr->strref_hash) {
 		Hash_FlushTable (pr->strref_hash);
 	} else {
@@ -138,7 +175,7 @@ PR_LoadStrings (progs_t *pr)
 
 	if (pr->static_strings)
 		free (pr->static_strings);
-	pr->static_strings = calloc (count, sizeof (strref_t));
+	pr->static_strings = malloc (count * sizeof (strref_t));
 	count = 0;
 	str = pr->pr_strings;
 	while (str < end) {
@@ -198,8 +235,8 @@ PR_GarbageCollect (progs_t *pr)
 	}
 }
 
-static inline char *
-get_string (progs_t *pr, int num)
+static inline strref_t *
+get_strref (progs_t *pr, int num)
 {
 	if (num < 0) {
 		unsigned int row = ~num / 1024;
@@ -208,7 +245,22 @@ get_string (progs_t *pr, int num)
 
 		if (row >= pr->dyn_str_size)
 			return 0;
-		return pr->dynamic_strings[row][num].string;
+		return &pr->dynamic_strings[row][num];
+	} else {
+		return 0;
+	}
+}
+
+static inline const char *
+get_string (progs_t *pr, int num)
+{
+	if (num < 0) {
+		strref_t   *ref = get_strref (pr, num);
+		if (!ref)
+			return 0;
+		if (ref->dstring)
+			return ref->dstring->str;
+		return ref->string;
 	} else {
 		if (num >= pr->pr_stringsize)
 			return 0;
@@ -225,24 +277,95 @@ PR_StringValid (progs_t *pr, int num)
 const char *
 PR_GetString (progs_t *pr, int num)
 {
-	char       *str;
+	const char *str;
 
 	str = get_string (pr, num);
 	if (str)
 		return str;
-	PR_RunError (pr, "Invalid string offset %u", num);
+	PR_RunError (pr, "Invalid string offset %d", num);
+}
+
+dstring_t *
+PR_GetDString (progs_t *pr, int num)
+{
+	strref_t   *ref = get_strref (pr, num);
+	if (ref) {
+		if (ref->dstring)
+			return ref->dstring;
+		PR_RunError (pr, "not a dstring: %d", num);
+	}
+	PR_RunError (pr, "Invalid string offset: %d", num);
+}
+
+static inline char *
+pr_strdup (progs_t *pr, const char *s)
+{
+	size_t      len = strlen (s) + 1;
+	char       *new = PR_Zone_Malloc (pr, len);
+	strcpy (new, s);
+	return new;
 }
 
 int
 PR_SetString (progs_t *pr, const char *s)
 {
-	strref_t *sr = Hash_Find (pr->strref_hash, s);
+	strref_t   *sr = Hash_Find (pr->strref_hash, s);
 
 	if (!sr) {
 		sr = new_string_ref (pr);
-		sr->string = strdup(s);
+		sr->string = pr_strdup(pr, s);
 		sr->count = 0;
 		Hash_Add (pr->strref_hash, sr);
 	}
 	return string_index (pr, sr);
 }
+
+int
+PR_SetTempString (progs_t *pr, const char *s)
+{
+	strref_t   *sr;
+
+	sr = new_string_ref (pr);
+	sr->string = pr_strdup(pr, s);
+	sr->count = 0;
+	sr->next = pr->pr_xtstr;
+	pr->pr_xtstr = sr;
+	return string_index (pr, sr);
+}
+
+int
+PR_NewString (progs_t *pr)
+{
+	strref_t   *sr = new_string_ref (pr);
+	sr->dstring = _dstring_newstr (pr->ds_mem);
+	return string_index (pr, sr);
+}
+
+void
+PR_FreeString (progs_t *pr, int str)
+{
+	strref_t   *sr = get_strref (pr, str);
+
+	if (sr) {
+		if (sr->dstring)
+			dstring_delete (sr->dstring);
+		else
+			PR_Zone_Free (pr, sr->string);
+		free_string_ref (pr, sr);
+		return;
+	}
+	PR_RunError (pr, "attempt to free invalid string %d", str);
+}
+
+void
+PR_FreeTempStrings (progs_t *pr)
+{
+	strref_t   *sr, *t;
+
+	for (sr = pr->pr_xtstr; sr; sr = t) {
+		t = sr->next;
+		PR_Zone_Free (pr, sr->string);
+		free_string_ref (pr, sr);
+	}
+	pr->pr_xtstr = 0;
+}
diff --git a/tools/qwaq/main.c b/tools/qwaq/main.c
index de6e0d364..d18523e8a 100644
--- a/tools/qwaq/main.c
+++ b/tools/qwaq/main.c
@@ -140,13 +140,8 @@ load_progs (const char *name)
 	pr.progs_name = name;
 	PR_LoadProgsFile (&pr, file, size, 1, 1024 * 1024);
 	Qclose (file);
-	if (!PR_ResolveGlobals (&pr))
+	if (!PR_RunLoadFuncs (&pr))
 		PR_Error (&pr, "unable to load %s", pr.progs_name);
-	PR_LoadStrings (&pr);
-	PR_LoadDebug (&pr);
-	PR_Check_Opcodes (&pr);
-	PR_RelocateBuiltins (&pr);
-	PR_InitRuntime (&pr);
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/qwaq/main.qc b/tools/qwaq/main.qc
index 01f606f96..74b199b7b 100644
--- a/tools/qwaq/main.qc
+++ b/tools/qwaq/main.qc
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+void () test_str =
+{
+	local string a,b,c,d;
+	a = "testing ";
+	b = "temp ";
+	c = "strings ";
+	d = "\n";
+	print (a + b + c + d);
+};
+
 integer (integer argc, string []argv) main =
 {
 	local integer i;
@@ -35,5 +45,6 @@ integer (integer argc, string []argv) main =
 			print ("Object instances do not repond to `run:with:me:'\n");
 	} else
 		print ("did not find selector for `run:with:me:'\n");
+	test_str ();
 	return 0;
 };