diff --git a/object.c b/object.c
index 6ec2749..a430c9b 100644
--- a/object.c
+++ b/object.c
@@ -177,7 +177,19 @@ ssize_t map_search(oop map, oop key)
 {
     assert(is(Map, map));
     assert(key);
+
     ssize_t l = 0, r = get(map, Map, size) - 1;
+    /* this optimization can only work if the array is consistent
+       ie. doesn't start at 3 because of existing member, see map_append
+    if (is(Integer, key)) {
+        size_t index = get(key, Integer, value);
+        if (index > r) {
+            return -1 - (r + 1);
+        }
+        return
+    }
+    */
+
     while (l <= r) {
         ssize_t mid = (l + r) / 2;
         int cmpres = oopcmp(get(map, Map, elements)[mid].key, key);
@@ -370,4 +382,3 @@ oop intern(char *ident)
     map_insert(symbol_table, symbol, null, pos);
     return symbol;
 }
- 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/parse.leg b/parse.leg
index d9c726c..e69808d 100644
--- a/parse.leg
+++ b/parse.leg
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ postfix =   i:value ( DOT    s:IDENT        a:argumentList      { map_set(a, int
                     | LBRAC  p:exp   RBRAC  !EQUAL              { i = newGetIndex(i, p) }
                     | a:argumentList                            { i = newCall(i, a) }
                     ) *                                         { $$ = i }
-                    
+
 paramList    = LPAREN  m:makeMap
                 ( i:IDENT           { map_append(m, i) }
                 ( COMMA i:IDENT     { map_append(m, i) }