diff --git a/lib/parse.ml b/lib/parse.ml
index 30b0263..7d3153d 100644
--- a/lib/parse.ml
+++ b/lib/parse.ml
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ let builtin_types =
 let rec texpr (f : Form.t) : Ast.texpr =
   let mk t = { Ast.t; tloc = f.loc } in
   match f.v with
+  (* Unit is spelled [()], ML's spelling. It is the honest name, and it cannot
+     collide with anything: an empty call is not a valid expression, so [()] has
+     no reading in value position to be confused with. Internally it stays
+     [Tname "Unit"] -- the resolver, the shim and the emitter all speak that
+     name, and diagnostics still print it. *)
+  | List [] -> mk (Ast.Tname "Unit")
   | Sym s -> mk (Ast.Tname s)
   | Vec [ elem ] -> mk (Ast.Tslice (texpr elem))
   | Vec [ n; elem ] -> mk (Ast.Tarray (len n, texpr elem))
@@ -865,6 +871,7 @@ and qualified_type types s =
 
 and is_type_form types (f : Form.t) =
   match f.v with
+  | List [] -> true                          (* () is unit, never a body form *)
   | Sym s ->
     Names.mem s types || Names.mem ("enum " ^ s) types
     || Names.mem ("prelude " ^ s) types || qualified_type types s