diff --git a/silverscript-lang/src/compiler/compile/helpers.rs b/silverscript-lang/src/compiler/compile/helpers.rs
index bd47903a..914d2aaf 100644
--- a/silverscript-lang/src/compiler/compile/helpers.rs
+++ b/silverscript-lang/src/compiler/compile/helpers.rs
@@ -16,27 +16,29 @@ pub(super) fn compile_contract_fields<'i>(
     let mut field_types = HashMap::new();
     let mut builder = script_builder();
     let stack_bindings = StackBindings::default();
+    let mut current_constants = base_constants.clone();
 
     for field in fields {
         let mut resolve_visiting = HashSet::new();
-        let resolved = resolve_constant_references(field.expr.clone(), base_constants, &mut resolve_visiting)?;
+        let resolved = resolve_constant_references(field.expr.clone(), &current_constants, &mut resolve_visiting)?;
 
-        if fixed_type_size(&field.type_ref, base_constants)?.is_some() {
-            let encoded = encode_value_with_constant_size(&resolved, &field.type_ref, base_constants)?;
+        if fixed_type_size(&field.type_ref, &current_constants)?.is_some() {
+            let encoded = encode_value_with_constant_size(&resolved, &field.type_ref, &current_constants)?;
             builder.add_data_with_push_opcode(&encoded)?;
         } else {
             let env = ExprEnv {
-                constants: base_constants,
+                constants: &current_constants,
                 stack_bindings: &stack_bindings,
                 types: &field_types,
                 bytecode_size,
-                contract_constants: base_constants,
+                contract_constants: &current_constants,
             };
             let mut emitter = ScriptEmitter::new(&mut builder, 0);
             compile_expr(&resolved, Some(&field.type_ref), &env, &mut emitter)?;
         }
 
-        field_values.insert(field.name.clone(), resolved);
+        field_values.insert(field.name.clone(), resolved.clone());
+        current_constants.insert(field.name.clone(), resolved);
         field_types.insert(field.name.clone(), field.type_ref.clone());
     }
 
diff --git a/silverscript-lang/tests/compiler_tests.rs b/silverscript-lang/tests/compiler_tests.rs
index c98474e5..daf04f0b 100644
--- a/silverscript-lang/tests/compiler_tests.rs
+++ b/silverscript-lang/tests/compiler_tests.rs
@@ -17822,3 +17822,74 @@ fn signature_script_builder_requires_explicit_byte_values() {
         encode_entry_sig_script(&compiled, "array", &[ArtifactValue::Bytes(vec![1])]).expect("explicit byte elements build");
     run_bytecode_with_sigscript(bytecode(&compiled), sigscript).expect("the explicit byte-array invocation executes");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn contract_field_initializer_accepts_a_reference_to_an_earlier_field() {
+    let source = r#"
+        contract PriorFieldReference(int initial) {
+            int amount = initial;
+            int mirrored = amount;
+
+            entry main() {
+                require(mirrored == amount);
+            }
+        }
+    "#;
+
+    let compiled = compile_contract(source, &[42.into()], CompileOptions::default());
+    assert!(compiled.is_ok(), "contract with prior field reference should compile successfully: {:?}", compiled.err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn contract_field_initializer_rejects_forward_and_undefined_references() {
+    let source_forward = r#"
+        contract ForwardFieldReference(int initial) {
+            int mirrored = amount;
+            int amount = initial;
+
+            entry main() {
+                require(mirrored == amount);
+            }
+        }
+    "#;
+    let err_forward = compile_contract(source_forward, &[42.into()], CompileOptions::default()).expect_err("forward reference should fail");
+    assert!(
+        err_forward.to_string().contains("UndefinedIdentifier") || err_forward.to_string().contains("undefined"),
+        "unexpected error: {err_forward}"
+    );
+
+    let source_undefined = r#"
+        contract UndefinedFieldReference(int initial) {
+            int amount = undefined_var;
+
+            entry main() {
+                require(amount == initial);
+            }
+        }
+    "#;
+    let err_undefined = compile_contract(source_undefined, &[42.into()], CompileOptions::default()).expect_err("undefined reference should fail");
+    assert!(
+        err_undefined.to_string().contains("UndefinedIdentifier") || err_undefined.to_string().contains("undefined"),
+        "unexpected error: {err_undefined}"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn contract_field_initializer_rejects_cyclic_references() {
+    let source_cyclic = r#"
+        contract CyclicFieldReference(int initial) {
+            int amount = mirrored;
+            int mirrored = amount;
+
+            entry main() {
+                require(amount == initial);
+            }
+        }
+    "#;
+    let err_cyclic = compile_contract(source_cyclic, &[42.into()], CompileOptions::default()).expect_err("cyclic reference should fail");
+    assert!(
+        err_cyclic.to_string().contains("UndefinedIdentifier") || err_cyclic.to_string().contains("undefined"),
+        "unexpected error: {err_cyclic}"
+    );
+}
+