diff --git a/scripts/validate.sh b/scripts/validate.sh
index cb87474..130d555 100755
--- a/scripts/validate.sh
+++ b/scripts/validate.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fail() { printf "${RED}FAIL${NC} %s\n" "${1:-}"; FAILED=$((FAILED + 1)); }
 
 # --- Rust checks ---
 step "cargo check"
-if nix develop --command cargo check 2>&1 | grep -q "Finished"; then ok; else fail; fi
+if nix develop --command cargo check 2>/dev/null; then ok; else fail; fi
 
 step "cargo test"
 OUTPUT=$(nix develop --command cargo test 2>&1 || true)
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if echo "$RESULT" | grep -q "0 failed"; then ok "$RESULT"; else fail "$RESULT";
 
 # --- Build release binary ---
 step "cargo build --release"
-if nix develop --command cargo build --release 2>&1 | grep -q "Finished"; then ok; else fail; fi
+if nix develop --command cargo build --release 2>/dev/null; then ok; else fail; fi
 
 # --- Package tests ---
 for pkg in path frontmatter xml rss markdown; do
diff --git a/src/codegen/c_backend.rs b/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
index a7a9619..0eb34d4 100644
--- a/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
+++ b/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ impl CBackend {
                 Declaration::Let(let_decl) => {
                     // Skip run expressions - they're handled in the main wrapper
                     if !matches!(&let_decl.value, Expr::Run { .. }) {
-                        self.emit_global_let(&let_decl.name, &let_decl.value)?;
+                        self.emit_global_let(&let_decl.name)?;
                     }
                 }
                 _ => {}
@@ -5561,9 +5561,9 @@ impl CBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    fn emit_global_let(&mut self, name: &Ident, value: &Expr) -> Result<(), CGenError> {
-        let val = self.emit_expr(value)?;
-        self.writeln(&format!("static LuxInt {} = {};", name.name, val));
+    fn emit_global_let(&mut self, name: &Ident) -> Result<(), CGenError> {
+        // Declare global variable without initializer (initialized in main)
+        self.writeln(&format!("static LuxInt {} = 0;", name.name));
         self.writeln("");
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -5574,12 +5574,16 @@ impl CBackend {
             matches!(d, Declaration::Function(f) if f.name.name == "main")
         });
 
-        // Check for top-level run expressions
+        // Check for top-level run expressions or let bindings
         let has_run = program.declarations.iter().any(|d| {
             matches!(d, Declaration::Let(let_decl) if matches!(&let_decl.value, Expr::Run { .. }))
         });
 
-        if has_main || has_run {
+        let has_global_lets = program.declarations.iter().any(|d| {
+            matches!(d, Declaration::Let(let_decl) if !matches!(&let_decl.value, Expr::Run { .. }))
+        });
+
+        if has_main || has_run || has_global_lets {
             self.writeln("int main(int argc, char** argv) {");
             self.indent += 1;
 
@@ -5588,6 +5592,16 @@ impl CBackend {
             self.writeln("lux_argv = argv;");
             self.writeln("");
 
+            // Initialize top-level let bindings (non-run) inside main
+            for decl in &program.declarations {
+                if let Declaration::Let(let_decl) = decl {
+                    if !matches!(&let_decl.value, Expr::Run { .. }) {
+                        let val = self.emit_expr(&let_decl.value)?;
+                        self.writeln(&format!("{} = {};", let_decl.name.name, val));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // Execute top-level let bindings with run expressions
             // Track if main was already called via a run expression
             let mut main_called_via_run = false;