diff --git a/runtime/src/builtins.rs b/runtime/src/builtins.rs
index 6ae3cda..1b95386 100644
--- a/runtime/src/builtins.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/builtins.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ use crate::{
     prelude::*,
     scope::Scope,
     string::RipString,
+    table,
+    throw,
 };
 use riptide_syntax::source::SourceFile;
 use std::convert::TryInto;
@@ -21,7 +23,6 @@ pub(crate) fn load_module() -> Result<Value, Exception> {
         "load" => Value::ForeignFn(load.into()),
         "nil" => Value::ForeignFn(nil.into()),
         "nth" => Value::ForeignFn(nth.into()),
-        "pass" => Value::ForeignFn(pass.into()),
         "throw" => Value::ForeignFn(throw.into()),
         "try" => Value::ForeignFn(try_fn.into()),
         "typeof" => Value::ForeignFn(type_of.into()),
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ async fn type_of(_: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
 
 /// Parse a string as code, returning it as an executable closure.
 async fn load(fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    let script: RipString = match args.get(0).and_then(Value::as_string) {
+    let script: RipString = match args.first().and_then(Value::as_string) {
         Some(s) => s.clone(),
         None => throw!("first argument must be a string"),
     };
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ async fn load(fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
 }
 
 async fn nth(_: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    let list = match args.get(0).and_then(Value::as_list) {
+    let list = match args.first().and_then(Value::as_list) {
         Some(s) => s.to_vec(),
         None => throw!("first argument must be a list"),
     };
@@ -91,10 +92,6 @@ async fn nil(_: &mut Fiber, _: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
     Ok(Value::Nil)
 }
 
-async fn pass(_fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    Ok(args.first().cloned().unwrap_or(Value::Nil))
-}
-
 /// Throw an exception.
 async fn throw(_: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
     match args.first() {
diff --git a/runtime/src/controlflow.rs b/runtime/src/controlflow.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a23755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/src/controlflow.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+//! Helpers for navigating control flow within the interpreter.
+//!
+//! This is not exposed in the runtime API, as manipulating control flow is a
+//! privileged operation.
+
+use crate::{Exception, Value};
+
+/// Control flow is handled in the interpreter entirely using return values.
+pub(crate) type ControlFlow<T> = std::ops::ControlFlow<BreakAction, T>;
+
+/// When performing an early exit of normal control flow, this is the action being
+/// performed.
+pub(crate) enum BreakAction {
+    /// Break out of the closest function boundary with the given return value.
+    /// This bubbles up through the stack until the nearest function invocation
+    /// is reached.
+    Return(Value),
+
+    /// Throw an exception. This is bubbled up through the stack until caught.
+    Throw(Exception),
+}
+
+macro_rules! throw_cf {
+    ($($arg:tt)*) => {
+        return ::std::ops::ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Throw($crate::Exception::from(format!($($arg)*))))
+    };
+}
+
+pub(crate) use throw_cf;
diff --git a/runtime/src/eval.rs b/runtime/src/eval.rs
index f11922f..3fca36d 100644
--- a/runtime/src/eval.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/eval.rs
@@ -1,21 +1,26 @@
 //! This module contains the core logic of the interpreter.
 
-use riptide_syntax::{
-    parse,
-    ast::*,
-    source::*,
-};
-use super::{
+use crate::{
     closure::Closure,
+    controlflow::{throw_cf, BreakAction, ControlFlow},
     exceptions::Exception,
     fiber::Fiber,
     foreign::ForeignFn,
     scope::Scope,
+    string::RipString,
+    table,
     table::Table,
+    throw,
     value::Value,
 };
-use gc::Gc;
 use futures::future::try_join_all;
+use gc::Gc;
+use riptide_syntax::{
+    parse,
+    ast::*,
+    source::*,
+};
+use std::ops::ControlFlow::Continue;
 
 /// Compile the given source code as a closure.
 pub(crate) fn compile(fiber: &mut Fiber, file: impl Into<SourceFile>) -> Result<Closure, Exception> {
@@ -23,36 +28,22 @@ pub(crate) fn compile(fiber: &mut Fiber, file: impl Into<SourceFile>) -> Result<
     let file_name = file.name().to_string();
 
     match parse(file) {
-        Ok(block) => compile_block(fiber, block),
-        Err(e) => throw!("error parsing {}: {}", file_name, e),
-    }
-}
-
-pub(crate) fn compile_anonymous_closure(file: impl Into<SourceFile>) -> Result<Closure, Exception> {
-    let file = file.into();
-    let file_name = file.name().to_string();
-
-    match parse(file) {
-        Ok(block) => Ok(Closure {
-            block,
-            scope: None,
-            name: None,
-        }),
+        Ok(block) => Ok(compile_block(fiber, block)),
         Err(e) => throw!("error parsing {}: {}", file_name, e),
     }
 }
 
 /// Compile a block into an executable closure.
-fn compile_block(fiber: &mut Fiber, block: Block) -> Result<Closure, Exception> {
+fn compile_block(fiber: &mut Fiber, block: Block) -> Closure {
     // Constructing a closure is quite easy since our interpreter is based
     // around evaluating AST nodes directly within an environment. All we have to
     // do aside from persisting the AST is capture the current environment.
 
-    Ok(Closure {
+    Closure {
         block,
         scope: fiber.current_scope().cloned(),
         name: None,
-    })
+    }
 }
 
 /// Invoke the given value as a function with the given arguments.
@@ -106,11 +97,14 @@ pub(crate) async fn invoke_closure(fiber: &mut Fiber, closure: &Closure, args: V
     // Evaluate each statement in order.
     for statement in closure.block.statements.clone().into_iter() {
         match evaluate_statement(*fiber, statement).await {
-            Ok(return_value) => last_return_value = return_value,
+            Continue(return_value) => last_return_value = return_value,
+
+            // Stop block execution and return the given value.
+            ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Return(value)) => return Ok(value),
 
             // Exception thrown; our scope guard from earlier will ensure that
             // the stack is unwound.
-            Err(mut exception) => {
+            ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Throw(mut exception)) => {
                 if exception.backtrace.is_empty() {
                     exception.backtrace = fiber.backtrace().cloned().collect();
                 }
@@ -149,11 +143,16 @@ async fn invoke_native(fiber: &mut Fiber, function: &ForeignFn, args: Vec<Value>
 }
 
 #[async_recursion::async_recursion(?Send)]
-async fn evaluate_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: Statement) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: Statement) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     match statement {
         Statement::Import(statement) => {
             evaluate_import_statement(fiber, statement).await?;
-            Ok(Default::default())
+            Continue(Default::default())
+        },
+        Statement::Return(None) => ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Return(Value::Nil)),
+        Statement::Return(Some(expr)) => {
+            let value = evaluate_expr(fiber, expr).await?;
+            ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Return(value))
         },
         Statement::Pipeline(pipeline) => evaluate_pipeline(fiber, pipeline).await,
         Statement::Assignment(AssignmentStatement {target, value}) => {
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ async fn evaluate_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: Statement) -> Result<V
                     if let Some(table) = evaluate_expr(fiber, *member_access.0).await?.as_table() {
                         table.set(member_access.1, evaluate_expr(fiber, value).await?);
                     } else {
-                        throw!("cannot assign to a non-table")
+                        throw_cf!("cannot assign to a non-table")
                     }
                 }
                 AssignmentTarget::Variable(variable) => {
@@ -180,13 +179,13 @@ async fn evaluate_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: Statement) -> Result<V
                 }
             }
 
-            Ok(Value::Nil)
+            Continue(Value::Nil)
         },
     }
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_import_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: ImportStatement) -> Result<(), Exception> {
-    let module_contents = fiber.load_module(statement.path.as_str()).await?;
+async fn evaluate_import_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: ImportStatement) -> ControlFlow<()> {
+    let module_contents = result_to_control_flow(fiber.load_module(statement.path.as_str()).await)?;
 
     match statement.clause {
         ImportClause::Items(imports) => {
@@ -206,10 +205,10 @@ async fn evaluate_import_statement(fiber: &mut Fiber, statement: ImportStatement
         }
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    Continue(())
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_pipeline(fiber: &mut Fiber, pipeline: Pipeline) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_pipeline(fiber: &mut Fiber, pipeline: Pipeline) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     match pipeline.0.len() {
         // If there's only one call in the pipeline, we don't need to fork and
         // can just execute the function by itself.
@@ -220,27 +219,34 @@ async fn evaluate_pipeline(fiber: &mut Fiber, pipeline: Pipeline) -> Result<Valu
         // in the pipeline in their respective fibers concurrently.
         count => {
             let mut futures = Vec::new();
-            let mut ios = fiber.io.try_clone()?.split_n(count)?.into_iter();
+            let mut ios = match fiber.io.try_clone().and_then(|io| io.split_n(count)) {
+                Ok(io) => io.into_iter(),
+                Err(e) => return ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Throw(e.into())),
+            };
 
             for call in pipeline.0.iter() {
                 let mut fiber = fiber.fork();
                 fiber.io = ios.next().unwrap();
 
                 futures.push(async move {
-                    evaluate_call(&mut fiber, call.clone()).await
+                    match evaluate_call(&mut fiber, call.clone()).await {
+                        Continue(value) => Ok(value),
+                        ControlFlow::Break(action) => Err(action),
+                    }
                 });
             }
 
-            try_join_all(futures)
-                .await
-                .map(Value::List)
+            match try_join_all(futures).await {
+                Ok(values) => Continue(Value::List(values)),
+                Err(action) => ControlFlow::Break(action),
+            }
         }
     }
 }
 
 #[async_recursion::async_recursion(?Send)]
-async fn evaluate_call(fiber: &mut Fiber, call: Call) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    match call {
+async fn evaluate_call(fiber: &mut Fiber, call: Call) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    result_to_control_flow(match call {
         Call::Named {function, args} => {
             let name = function;
             let function = fiber.get(&name);
@@ -258,10 +264,10 @@ async fn evaluate_call(fiber: &mut Fiber, call: Call) -> Result<Value, Exception
 
             invoke(fiber, &function, arg_values).await
         },
-    }
+    })
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_call_args(fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<CallArg>) -> Result<Vec<Value>, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_call_args(fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<CallArg>) -> ControlFlow<Vec<Value>> {
     let mut arg_values = Vec::with_capacity(args.len());
 
     for arg in args {
@@ -275,21 +281,21 @@ async fn evaluate_call_args(fiber: &mut Fiber, args: Vec<CallArg>) -> Result<Vec
                         arg_values.push(item.clone());
                     }
                 } else if !splat_items.is_nil() {
-                    throw!("cannot expand a {} value as function arguments", splat_items.type_name());
+                    throw_cf!("cannot expand a {} value as function arguments", splat_items.type_name());
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 
-    Ok(arg_values)
+    Continue(arg_values)
 }
 
 #[async_recursion::async_recursion(?Send)]
-async fn evaluate_expr(fiber: &mut Fiber, expr: Expr) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_expr(fiber: &mut Fiber, expr: Expr) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     match expr {
-        Expr::Number(number) => Ok(Value::Number(number)),
-        Expr::String(string) => Ok(Value::from(string)),
-        Expr::Regex(RegexLiteral(src)) => Ok(Value::Regex(src)),
+        Expr::Number(number) => Continue(Value::Number(number)),
+        Expr::String(string) => Continue(Value::from(string)),
+        Expr::Regex(RegexLiteral(src)) => Continue(Value::Regex(src)),
         Expr::CvarReference(cvar) => evaluate_cvar(fiber, cvar).await,
         Expr::CvarScope(cvar_scope) => evaluate_cvar_scope(fiber, cvar_scope).await,
         Expr::Substitution(substitution) => evaluate_substitution(fiber, substitution).await,
@@ -298,41 +304,52 @@ async fn evaluate_expr(fiber: &mut Fiber, expr: Expr) -> Result<Value, Exception
         Expr::InterpolatedString(string) => evaluate_interpolated_string(fiber, string).await,
         Expr::MemberAccess(MemberAccess(lhs, rhs)) => evaluate_member_access(fiber, *lhs, rhs).await,
         Expr::Block(block) => evaluate_block(fiber, block),
+        Expr::Subroutine(subroutine) => evaluate_subroutine(fiber, subroutine),
         Expr::Pipeline(pipeline) => evaluate_pipeline(fiber, pipeline).await,
     }
 }
 
-fn evaluate_block(fiber: &mut Fiber, block: Block) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    compile_block(fiber, block).map(Value::from)
+fn evaluate_block(fiber: &mut Fiber, block: Block) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    Continue(compile_block(fiber, block).into())
+}
+
+fn evaluate_subroutine(fiber: &mut Fiber, subroutine: Subroutine) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    let variable_name = RipString::from(subroutine.name.as_str());
+    let closure = compile_block(fiber, subroutine.block).with_name(subroutine.name);
+    let value = Value::Block(closure);
+
+    fiber.set(variable_name, value.clone());
+
+    Continue(value)
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_member_access(fiber: &mut Fiber, lhs: Expr, rhs: String) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    Ok(evaluate_expr(fiber, lhs).await?.get(rhs))
+async fn evaluate_member_access(fiber: &mut Fiber, lhs: Expr, rhs: String) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    Continue(evaluate_expr(fiber, lhs).await?.get(rhs))
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_cvar(fiber: &mut Fiber, cvar: CvarReference) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    Ok(fiber.get_cvar(cvar.0))
+async fn evaluate_cvar(fiber: &mut Fiber, cvar: CvarReference) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    Continue(fiber.get_cvar(cvar.0))
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_cvar_scope(fiber: &mut Fiber, cvar_scope: CvarScope) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
-    let closure = compile_block(fiber, cvar_scope.scope)?;
+async fn evaluate_cvar_scope(fiber: &mut Fiber, cvar_scope: CvarScope) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
+    let closure = compile_block(fiber, cvar_scope.scope);
 
     let cvars = table! {
         cvar_scope.name.0 => evaluate_expr(fiber, *cvar_scope.value).await?,
     };
 
-    invoke_closure(fiber, &closure, vec![], cvars, table!()).await
+    result_to_control_flow(invoke_closure(fiber, &closure, vec![], cvars, table!()).await)
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_substitution(fiber: &mut Fiber, substitution: Substitution) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_substitution(fiber: &mut Fiber, substitution: Substitution) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     match substitution {
-        Substitution::Variable(name) => Ok(fiber.get(name)),
+        Substitution::Variable(name) => Continue(fiber.get(name)),
         Substitution::Pipeline(pipeline) => evaluate_pipeline(fiber, pipeline).await,
         _ => unimplemented!(),
     }
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_table_literal(fiber: &mut Fiber, literal: TableLiteral) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_table_literal(fiber: &mut Fiber, literal: TableLiteral) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     let table = Table::default();
 
     for entry in literal.0 {
@@ -342,20 +359,20 @@ async fn evaluate_table_literal(fiber: &mut Fiber, literal: TableLiteral) -> Res
         table.set(key.to_string(), value);
     }
 
-    Ok(Value::from(table))
+    Continue(Value::from(table))
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_list_literal(fiber: &mut Fiber, list: ListLiteral) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_list_literal(fiber: &mut Fiber, list: ListLiteral) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     let mut values = Vec::new();
 
     for expr in list.0 {
         values.push(evaluate_expr(fiber, expr).await?);
     }
 
-    Ok(Value::List(values))
+    Continue(Value::List(values))
 }
 
-async fn evaluate_interpolated_string(fiber: &mut Fiber, string: InterpolatedString) -> Result<Value, Exception> {
+async fn evaluate_interpolated_string(fiber: &mut Fiber, string: InterpolatedString) -> ControlFlow<Value> {
     let mut rendered = String::new();
 
     for part in string.0.into_iter() {
@@ -365,5 +382,12 @@ async fn evaluate_interpolated_string(fiber: &mut Fiber, string: InterpolatedStr
         }.as_str());
     }
 
-    Ok(Value::from(rendered))
+    Continue(Value::from(rendered))
+}
+
+fn result_to_control_flow<T>(result: Result<T, Exception>) -> ControlFlow<T> {
+    match result {
+        Ok(value) => Continue(value),
+        Err(exception) => ControlFlow::Break(BreakAction::Throw(exception)),
+    }
 }
diff --git a/runtime/src/fiber.rs b/runtime/src/fiber.rs
index 9ca0595..048aabf 100644
--- a/runtime/src/fiber.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/fiber.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-use super::{
-    eval, exceptions::Exception, scope::Scope, string::RipString,
-    table::Table, value::Value,
-};
 use crate::{
+    eval,
+    exceptions::Exception,
     io::{IoContext, Input, Output},
     modules::{ModuleIndex, NativeModule},
+    scope::Scope,
+    string::RipString,
     syntax::source::SourceFile,
+    table,
+    table::Table,
+    value::Value,
 };
 use gc::Gc;
 use std::{rc::Rc, sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering}};
diff --git a/runtime/src/init.rt b/runtime/src/init.rt
index 0f230de..ad6ebd2 100644
--- a/runtime/src/init.rt
+++ b/runtime/src/init.rt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import 'builtins' for pass
+import 'builtins' for *
 
 $GLOBALS->modules = [
     # A list of module loader functions.
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ $GLOBALS->modules = [
     loaded: [:]
 ]
 
-$GLOBALS->pwd = {
-    pass @cwd
+$GLOBALS->pwd = sub pwd {
+    return @cwd
 }
diff --git a/runtime/src/lib.rs b/runtime/src/lib.rs
index 3d33d16..cfcac84 100644
--- a/runtime/src/lib.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 use std::{env, time::Instant};
 
-#[macro_use]
-mod macros;
-
 mod builtins;
 mod closure;
+mod controlflow;
 mod eval;
 mod exceptions;
 mod fiber;
 mod foreign;
 pub mod io;
+mod macros;
 mod modules;
 mod scope;
 mod string;
diff --git a/runtime/src/macros.rs b/runtime/src/macros.rs
index 7297a9a..09b1c6f 100644
--- a/runtime/src/macros.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/macros.rs
@@ -1,25 +1,3 @@
-/// Convenience macro for creating a table.
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! table {
-    () => {
-        $crate::Table::default()
-    };
-
-    (
-        $(
-            $key:expr => $value:expr,
-        )*
-    ) => {
-        {
-            let table = table!();
-            $(
-                table.set($key, $crate::Value::from($value));
-            )*
-            table
-        }
-    };
-}
-
 /// Convenience macro for throwing a runtime exception.
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! throw {
diff --git a/runtime/src/modules.rs b/runtime/src/modules.rs
index f132cb3..b242a86 100644
--- a/runtime/src/modules.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/modules.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 use crate::{
     prelude::*,
     syntax::source::SourceFile,
+    throw,
 };
 use std::{
     cell::RefCell,
diff --git a/runtime/src/table.rs b/runtime/src/table.rs
index d080eef..759ef18 100644
--- a/runtime/src/table.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/table.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,28 @@ use std::{
     iter::FromIterator,
 };
 
+/// Convenience macro for creating a table.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! table {
+    () => {
+        $crate::Table::default()
+    };
+
+    (
+        $(
+            $key:expr => $value:expr,
+        )*
+    ) => {
+        {
+            let table = table!();
+            $(
+                table.set($key, $crate::Value::from($value));
+            )*
+            table
+        }
+    };
+}
+
 /// Implementation of a "table". Tables are used like a map or object.
 ///
 /// Only string keys are allowed.
diff --git a/rustfmt.toml b/rustfmt.toml
index 3fcae1d..224c419 100644
--- a/rustfmt.toml
+++ b/rustfmt.toml
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-edition = "2018"
 imports_layout = "HorizontalVertical"
 merge_imports = true
 overflow_delimited_expr = true
diff --git a/stdlib/src/init.rt b/stdlib/src/init.rt
index e410f39..41bb4c6 100644
--- a/stdlib/src/init.rt
+++ b/stdlib/src/init.rt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ $GLOBALS->eq = $eq
 $GLOBALS->command = $command
 
 # Evaluates a string as code.
-$GLOBALS->eval = <script ...args> {
+$GLOBALS->eval = <script, ...args> {
     $closure = (load $script)
     $closure ...$args
 }
diff --git a/syntax/src/ast.rs b/syntax/src/ast.rs
index 5af48b2..121f5ce 100644
--- a/syntax/src/ast.rs
+++ b/syntax/src/ast.rs
@@ -50,12 +50,20 @@ pub struct Block {
     pub statements: Vec<Statement>,
 }
 
+/// A subroutine is a named block.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Subroutine {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub block: Block,
+}
+
 derive_debug_enum_transparent! {
     #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
     pub enum Statement {
         Assignment(AssignmentStatement),
         Import(ImportStatement),
         Pipeline(Pipeline),
+        Return(Option<Expr>),
     }
 }
 
@@ -123,6 +131,7 @@ derive_debug_enum_transparent! {
     #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
     pub enum Expr {
         Block(Block),
+        Subroutine(Subroutine),
         Pipeline(Pipeline),
         MemberAccess(MemberAccess),
         CvarReference(CvarReference),
diff --git a/syntax/src/grammar.pest b/syntax/src/grammar.pest
index b4fd085..4b9138d 100644
--- a/syntax/src/grammar.pest
+++ b/syntax/src/grammar.pest
@@ -13,20 +13,23 @@ block = { block_params? ~ "{" ~ statement_list ~ "}" }
 block_params = { "<" ~ block_params_list ~ ">" }
 block_params_list = _{
     vararg_param_decl
-    | param_decl ~ block_params_list?
+    | param_decl ~ ("," ~ block_params_list)?
 }
 
 param_decl = { symbol }
 vararg_param_decl = { "..." ~ symbol }
 
+// A subroutine is just a block with an explicit name.
+subroutine = { "sub" ~ symbol ~ block }
+
 // Blocks and programs are lists of statements.
 statement_list = { statement_separator* ~ (statement ~ (statement_separator+ ~ statement)*)? ~ statement_separator* }
 statement_separator = _{ NEWLINE | ";" }
 
 // A statement can be either an assignment or a pipeline.
-statement = _{ import_statement | assignment_statement | pipeline_statement }
+statement = _{ import_statement | assignment_statement | return_statement | pipeline_statement }
 
-import_statement = { "import" ~ string_literal ~ "for" ~ import_clause }
+import_statement = { KEYWORD_IMPORT ~ string_literal ~ "for" ~ import_clause }
 import_clause = { import_wildcard | import_items }
 import_items = { string_literal+ }
 import_wildcard = { "*" }
@@ -39,6 +42,8 @@ assignment_target = {
     | &"$" ~ variable_substitution
 }
 
+return_statement = { KEYWORD_RETURN ~ expr? }
+
 pipeline_statement = { pipeline }
 
 // Expression is the main syntax building block.
@@ -48,6 +53,7 @@ expr = {
 }
 unary_expr = _{
     block
+    | subroutine
     | "(" ~ pipeline ~ ")"
     | cvar_scope
     | cvar
@@ -84,7 +90,7 @@ splat_arg = { "..." ~ expr }
 cvar = ${ "@" ~ string_literal }
 
 // Binds a context variable to a value for the duration of a scope.
-cvar_scope = { "let" ~ cvar ~ "=" ~ expr ~ block }
+cvar_scope = { KEYWORD_LET ~ cvar ~ "=" ~ expr ~ block }
 
 // Dollar sign indicates the start of some form of substitution.
 substitution = ${ &"$" ~ (
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ symbol = ${ !reserved_words ~ symbol_char ~ (!member_operator ~ symbol_char)* }
 
 // A list of keywords that are not allowed as bare identifiers because they have
 // special meaning.
-reserved_words = _{ "import" | "let" }
+reserved_words = _{ KEYWORD_IMPORT | KEYWORD_LET | KEYWORD_RETURN }
 
 // Operator to access namespaces and table members.
 member_operator = _{ "->" }
@@ -143,3 +149,8 @@ COMMENT = _{ "#" ~ (!NEWLINE ~ ANY)* }
 // Only horizontal whitespace is insignificant; vertical whitespace is used to
 // separate staements in blocks.
 WHITESPACE = _{ " " | "\t" | "\\" ~ NEWLINE }
+
+// All reserved keywords.
+KEYWORD_IMPORT = _{ "import" }
+KEYWORD_LET = _{ "let" }
+KEYWORD_RETURN = _{ "return" }
diff --git a/syntax/src/parser.rs b/syntax/src/parser.rs
index 3a8ab4b..daec377 100644
--- a/syntax/src/parser.rs
+++ b/syntax/src/parser.rs
@@ -108,10 +108,32 @@ impl ParsableNode for Block {
     }
 }
 
+impl ParsableNode for Subroutine {
+    fn from_pair(pair: Pair<'_, Rule>, ctx: &mut ParsingContext) -> Result<Self, ParseError> {
+        assert!(pair.as_rule() == Rule::subroutine);
+
+        let mut pairs = pair.into_inner();
+
+        Ok(Subroutine {
+            name: pairs.next().unwrap().as_str().to_owned(),
+            block: from_pair(pairs.next().unwrap(), ctx)?,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 impl ParsableNode for Statement {
     fn from_pair(pair: Pair<'_, Rule>, ctx: &mut ParsingContext) -> Result<Self, ParseError> {
         match pair.as_rule() {
             Rule::import_statement => Ok(Statement::Import(from_pair(pair, ctx)?)),
+            Rule::return_statement => Ok(Statement::Return({
+                let mut pairs = pair.into_inner();
+
+                if let Some(pair) = pairs.next() {
+                    Some(from_pair(pair, ctx)?)
+                } else {
+                    None
+                }
+            })),
             Rule::pipeline_statement => Ok(Statement::Pipeline(from_pair(pair.into_inner().next().unwrap(), ctx)?)),
             Rule::assignment_statement => {
                 let mut pairs = pair.into_inner();
@@ -232,6 +254,7 @@ impl Expr {
     fn from_pair_inner(pair: Pair<'_, Rule>, ctx: &mut ParsingContext) -> Result<Self, ParseError> {
         Ok(match pair.as_rule() {
             Rule::block => Expr::Block(from_pair(pair, ctx)?),
+            Rule::subroutine => Expr::Subroutine(from_pair(pair, ctx)?),
             Rule::pipeline => Expr::Pipeline(from_pair(pair, ctx)?),
             Rule::member_access_expr => from_pair(pair, ctx).map(Expr::MemberAccess)?,
             Rule::cvar => Expr::CvarReference(from_pair(pair, ctx)?),