diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e7e2d91..fdb689d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ The parser's error messages currently are virtually useless, so be very careful
 * Function application: `f x y`
 * Lambda abstraction: `\x y z. E` or `λx y z. E`
 * Let expressions: `let x = E; y = F in G`
-  * Or letrec expressions, which can only define variable,
-    but which can be self-referential: `letrec x = ... x ... in E`
+  * The definitions of let expessions may be recursive:
+    `let undefined = undefined in undefined`.
 * Parenthetical expressions: `(E)`
 * Constructors: `()`, `(x, y)` (or `(,) x y`), `Left x`, `Right y`, `Z`, `S`, `[]`, `(x :: xs)` (or `(:) x xs`), `Char n`.
   * The parentheses around the cons constructor are not optional.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ The parser's error messages currently are virtually useless, so be very careful
 * Comments: `// line comment`, `/* block comment */`
 
 Top-level contexts (e.g. the REPL or a source code file)
-allow declarations (`let(rec) x = E` without multiple definitions `in ...`),
+allow declarations (`let x = E` without multiple definitions `in ...`),
 which make your definitions available for the rest of the program's execution.
 You must separate your declarations and expressions with `;`.
 
diff --git a/app/Main.hs b/app/Main.hs
index c9f687c..01fb743 100644
--- a/app/Main.hs
+++ b/app/Main.hs
@@ -81,15 +81,15 @@ runProgram program = do
   runDeclOrExpr (Right (Var "main"))
 
 loadFile :: ProgramAST -> AppM ()
-loadFile = mapM_ (\(name, ty, e) -> define name ty $ ast2check e)
+loadFile = mapM_ (\(name, ty, e) -> define name ty $ decl2check name e)
 
 runTopLevel :: TopLevelAST -> AppM ()
 runTopLevel = mapM_ runDeclOrExpr
 
 runDeclOrExpr :: Either Declaration AST -> AppM ()
-runDeclOrExpr (Left (name, ty, exprAST)) = do
+runDeclOrExpr (Left (name, ty, body)) = do
   defs <- gets definitions
-  let expr = substitute defs $ ast2check exprAST
+  let expr = substitute defs $ decl2check name body
   _ <- typecheckDecl ty name expr
   define name ty expr
 runDeclOrExpr (Right exprAST) = do
diff --git a/examples/examples.ivo b/examples/examples.ivo
index c809d61..72994ab 100755
--- a/examples/examples.ivo
+++ b/examples/examples.ivo
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env -S ivo -c
 // Create a list by iterating `f` `n` times:
-letrec iterate = \f x.
+let iterate = \f x.
     { Z   -> []
     ; S n -> (x :: iterate f (f x) n)
     };
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ let countToTen : [Nat] =
   in countTo 10;
 
 // Append two lists together:
-letrec append = \xs ys.
+let append = \xs ys.
     { []        -> ys
     ; (x :: xs) -> (x :: append xs ys)
     } xs;
 
 // Reverse a list:
-letrec reverse =
+let reverse =
     { []         -> []
     ; (x :: xs)  -> append (reverse xs) [x]
     };
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ let threePlusTwo : Nat =
     ; plus = \x. x Sf
   in plus (\f x. f (f (f x))) (\f x. f (f x)) S Z;
 
-letrec undefined = undefined;
+let undefined = undefined;
 
 // This expression would loop forever, but `callcc` saves the day!
 let callccSaves : Nat = S (callcc \k. undefined (k Z));
diff --git a/src/Ivo/Expression.hs b/src/Ivo/Expression.hs
index f924cc7..a768da4 100644
--- a/src/Ivo/Expression.hs
+++ b/src/Ivo/Expression.hs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module Ivo.Expression
   ( Expr (..), Ctr (..), Pat, ExprF (..), PatF (..), DefF (..), VoidF, UnitF (..), Text
   , Type (..), TypeF (..), Scheme (..), tapp
-  , substitute, substitute1, rename, free, bound, used
+  , substitute, substitute1, rename, free, freeIn, bound, used
   , Eval, EvalExpr, EvalX, EvalXF (..), Identity (..)
   , pattern AppFE, pattern CtrE, pattern CtrFE,
     pattern ContE, pattern ContFE, pattern CallCCE, pattern CallCCFE
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module Ivo.Expression
   , Check, CheckExpr, CheckExprF, CheckX, CheckXF (..)
   , pattern AppFC, pattern CtrC, pattern CtrFC, pattern CallCCC, pattern CallCCFC
   , pattern FixC, pattern FixFC, pattern HoleC, pattern HoleFC
-  , ast2check, ast2eval, check2eval, check2ast, eval2ast
+  , ast2check, decl2check, ast2eval, check2eval, check2ast, eval2ast
   , builtins
   ) where
 
@@ -36,9 +36,18 @@ ast2check = substitute builtins . cata \case
   AppF ef exs -> foldl' App ef $ toList exs
   AbsF ns e -> foldr Abs e $ toList ns
   LetF ds e ->
-    let letExpr name val body' = App (Abs name body') val
+    let
+      letExpr, letPlainExpr, letRecExpr
+        :: Text -> CheckExpr -> CheckExpr -> CheckExpr
+      -- | A let expression binding a non-recursive value.
+      letPlainExpr name val body' = App (Abs name body') val
+      -- | A let expression binding a recursive value.
+      letRecExpr name val body' = letExpr name (App FixC $ Abs name val) body'
+      -- | Choose whether or not the let expression needs to be recursive.
+      letExpr name val body'
+        | name `freeIn` val = letRecExpr name val body'
+        | otherwise         = letPlainExpr name val body'
     in foldr (uncurry letExpr) e $ getNonEmptyDefFs ds
-  LetRecFP (nx, ex) e -> App (Abs nx e) (App FixC (Abs nx ex))
   CtrF ctr es -> foldl' App (CtrC ctr) es
   CaseF ps -> Case ps
   AnnF () e t -> Ann () e t
@@ -55,6 +64,13 @@ ast2check = substitute builtins . cata \case
     mkList :: [CheckExpr] -> CheckExpr
     mkList = foldr (App . App (CtrC CCons)) (CtrC CNil)
 
+-- | Convert from declaration abstract syntax to a typechecker expression.
+decl2check :: Text -> AST -> CheckExpr
+decl2check name ast
+  | name `freeIn` ast = App FixC $ Abs name expr
+  | otherwise         = expr
+  where expr = ast2check ast
+
 -- | Convert from a typechecker expression to an evaluator expression.
 check2eval :: CheckExpr -> EvalExpr
 check2eval = cata \case
diff --git a/src/Ivo/Expression/Base.hs b/src/Ivo/Expression/Base.hs
index 148db23..00235f4 100644
--- a/src/Ivo/Expression/Base.hs
+++ b/src/Ivo/Expression/Base.hs
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ module Ivo.Expression.Base
   , Type (..), TypeF (..), Scheme (..), tapp
   , RecursivePhase, projectAppArgs, projectLetArgs, projectCtrArgs, projectXExpr, projectDef
   , embedAppArgs, embedLetArgs, embedCtrArgs, embedXExpr, embedDef
-  , Substitutable, free, bound, used, collectVars, rename, rename1
+  , Substitutable, free, freeIn, bound, used, collectVars, rename, rename1
   , substitute, substitute1, unsafeSubstitute, unsafeSubstitute1
   , runRenamer, freshVar, replaceNames, runSubstituter, maySubstitute
+  , compose, composeMap
   ) where
 
 import Control.Monad.Reader (MonadReader, Reader, runReader, asks, local)
@@ -307,6 +308,10 @@ class Substitutable e where
   free :: e -> HashSet Text
   free = collectVars HS.singleton HS.delete
 
+  -- | Is the given name a member of the expression's free variables?
+  freeIn :: Text -> e -> Bool
+  freeIn name = HS.member name . free
+
   -- | Bound variables are variables which are abstracted over anywhere in an expression.
   bound :: e -> HashSet Text
   bound = collectVars (const HS.empty) HS.insert
@@ -430,11 +435,14 @@ maySubstitute :: ( MonadReader (HashMap Text b) m
                  )
               => t Text -> (a, m a) -> m a
 maySubstitute ns (unmodified, substituted) =
-  local (compose $ fmap HM.delete ns) do
+  local (composeMap HM.delete ns) do
     noMoreSubsts <- asks HM.null
     if noMoreSubsts
       then pure unmodified
       else substituted
 
-compose :: Foldable t => t (a -> a) -> a -> a
+compose :: Foldable t => t (a -> a) -> (a -> a)
 compose = foldr (.) id
+
+composeMap :: (Functor t, Foldable t) => (a -> (b -> b)) -> t a -> (b -> b)
+composeMap f = compose . fmap f
diff --git a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Base.hs b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Base.hs
index b5f0198..4444088 100644
--- a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Base.hs
+++ b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Base.hs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 module Ivo.Syntax.Base
   ( Expr (..), ExprF (..), Ctr (..), Pat, Def, DefF (..), PatF (..), VoidF, Text, NonEmpty (..)
   , Type (..), TypeF (..), Scheme (..), tapp
-  , substitute, substitute1, rename, rename1, free, bound, used
+  , substitute, substitute1, rename, rename1, free, freeIn, bound, used
   , Parse, AST, ASTF, ASTX, ASTXF (..), NonEmptyDefFs (..)
-  , pattern LetFP, pattern LetRecP, pattern LetRecFP
+  , pattern LetFP
   , pattern PNat, pattern PNatF, pattern PList, pattern PListF, pattern PChar, pattern PCharF
   , pattern PStr, pattern PStrF, pattern HoleP, pattern HoleFP
   , simplify
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ module Ivo.Syntax.Base
 
 import Ivo.Expression.Base
 
-import Data.Functor.Foldable (embed, project)
+import Data.Foldable (fold)
+import Data.Functor.Foldable (embed, project, cata)
 import Data.List.NonEmpty (NonEmpty (..), toList)
 import Data.Text qualified as T
 
@@ -49,10 +50,8 @@ type instance CtrArgsF Parse = []
 type instance XExprF   Parse = ASTXF
 
 data ASTXF r
-  -- | A let expression where the definitions may reference each other recursively.
-  = LetRecP_ !(Text, r) !r
   -- | A natural number literal, e.g. `10`.
-  | PNat_ Int
+  = PNat_ Int
   -- | A list literal, e.g. `[x, y, z]`.
   | PList_ [r]
   -- | A character literal, e.g. `'a`.
@@ -73,12 +72,6 @@ newtype NonEmptyDefFs r = NonEmptyDefFs { getNonEmptyDefFs :: NonEmpty (Text, r)
 pattern LetFP :: NonEmpty (Text, r) -> r -> ASTF r
 pattern LetFP ds e = LetF (NonEmptyDefFs ds) e
 
-pattern LetRecP :: (Text, AST) -> AST -> AST
-pattern LetRecP d e = ExprX (LetRecP_ d e)
-
-pattern LetRecFP :: (Text, r) -> r -> ASTF r
-pattern LetRecFP d e = ExprXF (LetRecP_ d e)
-
 pattern PNat :: Int -> AST
 pattern PNat n = ExprX (PNat_ n)
 
@@ -110,11 +103,26 @@ pattern HoleFP :: ASTF r
 pattern HoleFP = ExprXF HoleP_
 
 {-# COMPLETE VarF, AppF, AbsF, LetFP, CtrF, CaseF, AnnF, ExprXF                               #-}
-{-# COMPLETE Var,  App,  Abs,  Let,   Ctr,  Case,  Ann,  LetRecP,  PNat,  PList,  PChar,  PStr,  HoleP  #-}
-{-# COMPLETE VarF, AppF, AbsF, LetF , CtrF, CaseF, AnnF, LetRecFP, PNatF, PListF, PCharF, PStrF, HoleFP #-}
-{-# COMPLETE VarF, AppF, AbsF, LetFP, CtrF, CaseF, AnnF, LetRecFP, PNatF, PListF, PCharF, PStrF, HoleFP #-}
+{-# COMPLETE Var,  App,  Abs,  Let,   Ctr,  Case,  Ann,  PNat,  PList,  PChar,  PStr,  HoleP  #-}
+{-# COMPLETE VarF, AppF, AbsF, LetF , CtrF, CaseF, AnnF, PNatF, PListF, PCharF, PStrF, HoleFP #-}
+{-# COMPLETE VarF, AppF, AbsF, LetFP, CtrF, CaseF, AnnF, PNatF, PListF, PCharF, PStrF, HoleFP #-}
 
--- TODO: Implement Substitutable for AST.
+instance Substitutable AST where
+  collectVars withVar withBinder = cata \case
+    VarF name -> withVar name
+    AbsF names body -> compose (fmap withBinder names) body
+    LetFP defs body ->
+      composeMap (\(name, def) body' ->
+                    withBinder name def <> withBinder name body'
+                 ) defs body
+    CaseF pats -> foldMap (\(Pat _ ns e) -> foldr withBinder e ns) pats
+    e -> fold e
+
+  -- TODO
+  rename = error "rename not yet implemented for AST"
+
+  -- TODO
+  unsafeSubstitute = error "unsafeSubstitute not yet implemented for AST"
 
 -- | Combine nested expressions into compound expressions or literals when possible.
 simplify :: AST -> AST
diff --git a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Parser.hs b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Parser.hs
index 1d21c15..9591131 100644
--- a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Parser.hs
+++ b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Parser.hs
@@ -92,11 +92,9 @@ definition = label "definition" $ do
   pure (name, value)
 
 let_ :: Parser AST
-let_ = label "let expression" $ letrecstar <|> letstar
+let_ = label "let expression" $
+  Let <$> between (keyword "let") (keyword "in") definitions <*> ambiguous
   where
-    letrecstar = LetRecP <$> between (try (keyword "letrec")) (keyword "in") definition <*> ambiguous
-    letstar = Let <$> between (keyword "let") (keyword "in") definitions <*> ambiguous
-
     definitions :: Parser (NonEmpty (Def Parse))
     definitions = fromList <$> sepBy1 definition (token ';')
 
@@ -269,15 +267,9 @@ definitionAnn = do
   pure (name, ty, e)
 
 declaration :: Parser Declaration
-declaration = notFollowedBy (try let_) >> (declrec <|> decl)
-  where
-    declrec = do
-      try $ keyword "letrec"
-      (name, ty, expr) <- definitionAnn
-      pure (name, ty, LetRecP (name, expr) (Var name))
-    decl = do
-      keyword "let"
-      definitionAnn
+declaration = notFollowedBy (try let_) >> do
+  keyword "let"
+  definitionAnn
 
 -- | A program is a series of declarations and expressions to execute.
 type ProgramAST = [Declaration]
diff --git a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Printer.hs b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Printer.hs
index 3cb3b91..2c47cfe 100644
--- a/src/Ivo/Syntax/Printer.hs
+++ b/src/Ivo/Syntax/Printer.hs
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ unparseAST = toStrict . toLazyText . snd . cata \case
     let names' = fromLazyText (unwords $ map fromStrict $ toList names)
     in "λ" <> names' <> ". " <> unambiguous body
   LetFP defs body -> tag Block $ "let " <> unparseDefs defs <> " in " <> unambiguous body
-  LetRecFP def body -> tag Block $ "letrec " <> unparseDef def <> " in " <> unambiguous body
   CtrF ctr e -> unparseCtr ctr e
   CaseF pats ->
     let pats' = fromLazyText $ intercalate "; " $ map (toLazyText . unparsePat) pats