diff --git a/py/emitnative.c b/py/emitnative.c
index 425ba2d33..a40d690f2 100644
--- a/py/emitnative.c
+++ b/py/emitnative.c
@@ -841,10 +841,13 @@ STATIC void need_reg_single(emit_t *emit, int reg_needed, int skip_stack_pos) {
     }
 }
 
+// Ensures all unsettled registers that hold Python values are copied to the
+// concrete Python stack.  All registers are then free to use.
 STATIC void need_reg_all(emit_t *emit) {
     for (int i = 0; i < emit->stack_size; i++) {
         stack_info_t *si = &emit->stack_info[i];
         if (si->kind == STACK_REG) {
+            DEBUG_printf("    reg(%u) to local(%u)\n", si->data.u_reg, emit->stack_start + i);
             si->kind = STACK_VALUE;
             emit_native_mov_state_reg(emit, emit->stack_start + i, si->data.u_reg);
         }
@@ -871,16 +874,13 @@ STATIC vtype_kind_t load_reg_stack_imm(emit_t *emit, int reg_dest, const stack_i
     }
 }
 
+// Copies all unsettled registers and immediates that are Python values into the
+// concrete Python stack.  This ensures the concrete Python stack holds valid
+// values for the current stack_size.
+// This function may clobber REG_TEMP0.
 STATIC void need_stack_settled(emit_t *emit) {
     DEBUG_printf("  need_stack_settled; stack_size=%d\n", emit->stack_size);
-    for (int i = 0; i < emit->stack_size; i++) {
-        stack_info_t *si = &emit->stack_info[i];
-        if (si->kind == STACK_REG) {
-            DEBUG_printf("    reg(%u) to local(%u)\n", si->data.u_reg, emit->stack_start + i);
-            si->kind = STACK_VALUE;
-            emit_native_mov_state_reg(emit, emit->stack_start + i, si->data.u_reg);
-        }
-    }
+    need_reg_all(emit);
     for (int i = 0; i < emit->stack_size; i++) {
         stack_info_t *si = &emit->stack_info[i];
         if (si->kind == STACK_IMM) {