diff --git a/dist/platform/elc b/dist/platform/elc
index 5e83d07..05e4591 100755
Binary files a/dist/platform/elc and b/dist/platform/elc differ
diff --git a/el-compiler/src/parser.el b/el-compiler/src/parser.el
index afd1c33..ffe63b3 100644
--- a/el-compiler/src/parser.el
+++ b/el-compiler/src/parser.el
@@ -744,11 +744,16 @@ fn parse_stmt(tokens: [Map<String, Any>], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
         return make_result({ "stmt": "FnDef", "name": name, "params": params, "body": body, "ret_type": ret_type }, p)
     }
 
-    // type definition
+    // type definition: `type Name = { field: Type, ... }`
+    // The `=` between the name and the brace is optional in the spec but
+    // present in practice. Skip it if present before consuming the LBrace.
     if k == "Type" {
         let p = pos + 1
         let name = tok_value(tokens, p)
         let p = p + 1
+        // Consume optional `=` before the opening brace
+        let pk = tok_kind(tokens, p)
+        if pk == "Eq" { let p = p + 1 }
         let p = expect(tokens, p, "LBrace")
         let fields: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
         let running = true