diff --git a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
index 141d9eca1..199c98f0b 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class ObjectMap:
     def retrieve(self, obj_key):
         return self.forward_map[obj_key]
 
+    def has_rpc(self):
+        return any(filter(lambda x: inspect.isfunction(x) or inspect.ismethod(x),
+                          self.forward_map.values()))
+
 class ASTSynthesizer:
     def __init__(self, type_map, value_map, quote_function=None, expanded_from=None):
         self.source = ""
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/targets.py b/artiq/compiler/targets.py
index 1ed440236..3d9db3a05 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/targets.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/targets.py
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ class Target:
             backtrace = []
             for function_name, location, address in zip(lines[::2], lines[1::2], addresses):
                 filename, line = location.rsplit(":", 1)
+                if filename == '??':
+                    continue
                 # can't get column out of addr2line D:
                 backtrace.append((filename, int(line), -1, function_name, address))
             return backtrace
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_compile.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_compile.py
index c47360c51..9262edcb3 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_compile.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_compile.py
@@ -45,29 +45,27 @@ def main():
         arguments = parse_arguments(args.arguments)
         exp_inst = exp(dmgr, pdb, **arguments)
 
-        if (not hasattr(exp.run, "k_function_info")
-                or not exp.run.k_function_info):
+        if not hasattr(exp.run, "artiq_embedded"):
             raise ValueError("Experiment entry point must be a kernel")
-        core_name = exp.run.k_function_info.core_name
+        core_name = exp.run.artiq_embedded.core_name
         core = getattr(exp_inst, core_name)
 
-        binary, rpc_map, _ = core.compile(exp.run.k_function_info.k_function,
-                                          [exp_inst], {},
-                                          with_attr_writeback=False)
+        object_map, kernel_library, symbolizer = \
+            core.compile(exp.run, [exp_inst], {},
+                         with_attr_writeback=False)
     finally:
         dmgr.close_devices()
 
-    if rpc_map:
+    if object_map.has_rpc():
         raise ValueError("Experiment must not use RPC")
 
     output = args.output
     if output is None:
-        output = args.file
-        if output.endswith(".py"):
-            output = output[:-3]
-        output += ".elf"
+        basename, ext = os.path.splitext(args.file)
+        output = "{}.elf".format(basename)
+
     with open(output, "wb") as f:
-        f.write(binary)
+        f.write(kernel_library)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_coretool.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_coretool.py
index 10bed76a9..92af19734 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_coretool.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_coretool.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def to_bytes(string):
 def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="ARTIQ core device "
                                                  "remote access tool")
-    parser.add_argument("--ddb", default="ddb.pyon",
+    parser.add_argument("-d", "--ddb", default="ddb.pyon",
                         help="device database file")
 
     subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest="action")
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_run.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_run.py
index 06595746c..069a3358c 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_run.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_run.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ from artiq.language.environment import EnvExperiment
 from artiq.protocols.file_db import FlatFileDB
 from artiq.master.worker_db import DeviceManager, ResultDB
 from artiq.tools import *
-
+from artiq.compiler.embedding import ObjectMap
+from artiq.compiler.targets import OR1KTarget
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -25,9 +26,13 @@ class ELFRunner(EnvExperiment):
 
     def run(self):
         with open(self.file, "rb") as f:
-            self.core.comm.load(f.read())
-        self.core.comm.run("run")
-        self.core.comm.serve(dict(), dict())
+            kernel_library = f.read()
+
+        target = OR1KTarget()
+        self.core.comm.load(kernel_library)
+        self.core.comm.run()
+        self.core.comm.serve(ObjectMap(),
+                             lambda addresses: target.symbolize(kernel_library, addresses))
 
 
 class SimpleParamLogger:
diff --git a/artiq/language/core.py b/artiq/language/core.py
index e83c30de4..1a931d2d9 100644
--- a/artiq/language/core.py
+++ b/artiq/language/core.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def kernel(arg):
         def inner_decorator(function):
             @wraps(function)
             def run_on_core(self, *k_args, **k_kwargs):
-                return getattr(self, arg).run(function, ((self,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
+                return getattr(self, arg).run(run_on_core, ((self,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
             run_on_core.artiq_embedded = _ARTIQEmbeddedInfo(
                 core_name=arg, function=function, syscall=None)
             return run_on_core