diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 963ba25..3a91bed 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -17,18 +17,21 @@ export class Shrimp {
         this.globals = globals
     }
 
-    async run(code: string | Bytecode): Promise<any> {
+    async run(code: string | Bytecode, locals?: Record<string, any>): Promise<any> {
         let bytecode
 
         if (typeof code === 'string') {
-            const compiler = new Compiler(code, Object.keys(Object.assign({}, shrimpGlobals, this.globals ?? {})))
+            const compiler = new Compiler(code, Object.keys(Object.assign({}, shrimpGlobals, this.globals ?? {}, locals ?? {})))
             bytecode = compiler.bytecode
         } else {
             bytecode = code
         }
 
+        if (locals) this.vm.pushScope(locals)
         this.vm.appendBytecode(bytecode)
         await this.vm.continue()
+        if (locals) this.vm.popScope()
+
         return this.vm.stack.length ? fromValue(this.vm.stack.at(-1)!) : null
     }
 
diff --git a/src/tests/shrimp.test.ts b/src/tests/shrimp.test.ts
index 2713f3e..d8ddb7d 100644
--- a/src/tests/shrimp.test.ts
+++ b/src/tests/shrimp.test.ts
@@ -29,5 +29,26 @@ describe('Shrimp', () => {
     await shrimp.run('abc = hiya')
     expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('hey there')
     expect(await shrimp.run('type abc')).toEqual('string')
+
+    // still there
+    expect(await shrimp.run('hiya')).toEqual('hey there')
+  })
+
+  test('allows setting your own locals', async () => {
+    const shrimp = new Shrimp({ 'my-global': () => 'hey there' })
+
+    await shrimp.run('abc = my-global')
+    expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('hey there')
+
+    await shrimp.run('abc = my-global', { 'my-global': 'now a local' })
+    expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('now a local')
+
+    const shrimp2 = new Shrimp()
+    await shrimp.run('abc = nothing')
+    expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('nothing')
+    await shrimp.run('abc = nothing', { nothing: 'something' })
+    expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('something')
+    await shrimp.run('abc = nothing')
+    expect(shrimp.get('abc')).toEqual('nothing')
   })
 })
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