diff --git a/src/eval/eval_ir.c b/src/eval/eval_ir.c
index 902a90f0..5ede2ff9 100644
--- a/src/eval/eval_ir.c
+++ b/src/eval/eval_ir.c
@@ -946,6 +946,16 @@ e_irtree_and_type_from_expr(Arena *arena, E_Expr *root_expr)
           // rjf: pick access hook based on type
           E_Type *lhs_type = e_type_from_key__cached(lhs_irtree_try->type_key);
           E_TypeAccessFunctionType *lhs_access = lhs_type->access;
+          for(E_Type *lens_type = lhs_type;
+              lens_type->kind == E_TypeKind_Lens || lens_type->kind == E_TypeKind_Set;
+              lens_type = e_type_from_key__cached(lens_type->direct_type_key))
+          {
+            if(lens_type->access != 0)
+            {
+              lhs_access = lens_type->access;
+              break;
+            }
+          }
           if(lhs_access == 0)
           {
             lhs_access = E_TYPE_ACCESS_FUNCTION_NAME(default);
@@ -2302,15 +2312,26 @@ e_irtree_and_type_from_expr(Arena *arena, E_Expr *root_expr)
     //- rjf: if the evaluated type has a hook for an extra layer of ir extension,
     // call into it
     E_Type *type = e_type_from_key__cached(result.type_key);
-    if(type->kind != E_TypeKind_LensSpec && type->irext != 0)
     {
-      E_IRTreeAndType irtree_stripped = result;
-      if(type->kind == E_TypeKind_Lens)
+      E_TypeIRExtFunctionType *irext = type->irext;
+      for(E_Type *t = type; t->kind == E_TypeKind_Lens || t->kind == E_TypeKind_Set; t = e_type_from_key__cached(t->direct_type_key))
       {
-        irtree_stripped.type_key = e_type_key_direct(irtree_stripped.type_key);
+        if(t->irext != 0)
+        {
+          irext = t->irext;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      if(irext != 0)
+      {
+        E_IRTreeAndType irtree_stripped = result;
+        if(type->kind == E_TypeKind_Lens)
+        {
+          irtree_stripped.type_key = e_type_key_direct(irtree_stripped.type_key);
+        }
+        E_IRExt ext = irext(arena, expr, &irtree_stripped);
+        result.user_data = ext.user_data;
       }
-      E_IRExt ext = type->irext(arena, expr, &irtree_stripped);
-      result.user_data = ext.user_data;
     }
     
     //- rjf: equip previous task's irtree
diff --git a/src/eval_visualization/eval_visualization_core.c b/src/eval_visualization/eval_visualization_core.c
index c2c14195..c9e80938 100644
--- a/src/eval_visualization/eval_visualization_core.c
+++ b/src/eval_visualization/eval_visualization_core.c
@@ -562,6 +562,16 @@ ev_block_tree_from_expr(Arena *arena, EV_View *view, String8 filter, E_Expr *exp
       {
         type_expand_rule = &type->expand;
       }
+      for(E_Type *lens_type = type;
+          lens_type->kind == E_TypeKind_Lens || lens_type->kind == E_TypeKind_Set;
+          lens_type = e_type_from_key__cached(lens_type->direct_type_key))
+      {
+        if(lens_type->expand.info != 0)
+        {
+          type_expand_rule = &lens_type->expand;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
       
       // rjf: get eval's visualization expansion rule
       EV_ExpandRule *viz_expand_rule = ev_expand_rule_from_type_key(type_key);
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
index 33951338..fe4ecc58 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_views.c
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ rd_info_from_watch_row_cell(Arena *arena, EV_Row *row, EV_StringFlags string_fla
       {
         result.flags |= RD_WatchCellFlag_CanEdit;
       }
-      result.eval = (cell->eval.irtree.mode != E_Mode_Null ? cell->eval : row->eval);
+      result.eval = (!e_type_key_match(cell->eval.irtree.type_key, e_type_key_zero()) ? cell->eval : row->eval);
       result.string = row->string;
       if(result.string.size == 0)
       {
@@ -1525,7 +1525,7 @@ rd_info_from_watch_row_cell(Arena *arena, EV_Row *row, EV_StringFlags string_fla
       }
       
       //- rjf: evaluate wrapped expression
-      result.eval     = (cell->eval.irtree.mode != E_Mode_Null ? cell->eval : e_eval_from_expr(arena, root_expr));
+      result.eval = (!e_type_key_match(cell->eval.irtree.type_key, e_type_key_zero()) ? cell->eval : e_eval_from_expr(arena, root_expr));
       
       //- rjf: determine string generation parameters based on evaluation
       EV_StringParams string_params = {string_flags, 10};