rust-lang / rust-lang/rust

`super let` in `const` with interior mutability has inconsistent behavior

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A-const-eval C-bug F-super_let
Dominant language
Rust
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Description

I tried this code:

#![feature(super_let)]

use std::sync::atomic::AtomicI32;

const WORKS: &Option<AtomicI32> = {
    super let a: Option<AtomicI32> = None;
    &a
};

const WORKS2: &Option<AtomicI32> = {
    super let a: Option<AtomicI32> = None;
    let x = &a;
    &*x
};

const FAILS: &Option<AtomicI32> = {
    super let a: Option<AtomicI32> = None;
    let _x = &a;
    &a
};

I expected to see this happen: Either all three constants compile, or all three fail.

Instead, this happened: Only the FAILS constant fails to compile

error[E0492]: constants cannot refer to interior mutable data
  --> src/lib.rs:19:5
   |
19 |     &a
   |     ^^ this borrow of an interior mutable value may end up in the final value

For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0492`.
error: could not compile `playground` (lib) due to 1 previous error

See also #142229, which also involves super let in const, and issues with mutability.

Meta

Reproducible on the playground with 1.89.0-nightly (2025-06-11 e703dff8fe220b78195c)

@rustbot labels +F-super_let +A-const-eval

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by compiling the provided three-constant reproducer on the noted nightly and compare the handling of WORKS, WORKS2, and FAILS, including E0492. Trace the const-evaluation and interior-mutability checks involved in super let; done means the three cases have consistent behavior and a regression test covers it.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
rust
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
38/100

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