diff --git a/src/ion/merge.rs b/src/ion/merge.rs
index a5c4fe2..f3eb808 100644
--- a/src/ion/merge.rs
+++ b/src/ion/merge.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ impl<'a, F: Function> Env<'a, F> {
         }
 
         // If either bundle is already assigned (due to a pinned vreg), don't merge.
-        if !self.bundles[from.index()].allocation.is_none()
-            || !self.bundles[to.index()].allocation.is_none()
+        if self.bundles[from.index()].allocation.is_some()
+            || self.bundles[to.index()].allocation.is_some()
         {
             log::trace!("one of the bundles is already assigned (pinned)");
             return false;
diff --git a/src/ion/moves.rs b/src/ion/moves.rs
index 190292c..56336c4 100644
--- a/src/ion/moves.rs
+++ b/src/ion/moves.rs
@@ -817,8 +817,8 @@ impl<'a, F: Function> Env<'a, F> {
                 to_alloc,
                 to_vreg.index(),
             );
-            assert!(!from_alloc.is_none());
-            assert!(!to_alloc.is_none());
+            assert!(from_alloc.is_some());
+            assert!(to_alloc.is_some());
             assert_eq!(from_inst, to_inst.prev());
             // N.B.: these moves happen with the *same* priority as
             // LR-to-LR moves, because they work just like them: they
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index dda8575..1980908 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -298,7 +298,9 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for SpillSlot {
 /// physical register". The allocator's result will always satisfy all
 /// given constraints; however, if the input has a combination of
 /// constraints that are impossible to satisfy, then allocation may
-/// fail.
+/// fail or the allocator may panic (providing impossible constraints
+/// is usually a programming error in the client, rather than a
+/// function of bad input).
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum OperandConstraint {
     /// Any location is fine (register or stack slot).
@@ -487,6 +489,13 @@ impl Operand {
     /// to be written by the instruction, and will not conflict with
     /// any input or output, but should not be used after the
     /// instruction completes.
+    ///
+    /// Note that within a single instruction, the dedicated scratch
+    /// register (as specified in the `MachineEnv`) is also always
+    /// available for use. The register allocator may use the register
+    /// *between* instructions in order to implement certain sequences
+    /// of moves, but will never hold a value live in the scratch
+    /// register across an instruction.
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn reg_temp(vreg: VReg) -> Self {
         // For now a temp is equivalent to a def-at-start operand,
@@ -724,6 +733,12 @@ impl Allocation {
         self.kind() == AllocationKind::None
     }
 
+    /// Is the allocation not "none"?
+    #[inline(always)]
+    pub fn is_some(self) -> bool {
+        self.kind() != AllocationKind::None
+    }
+
     /// Is the allocation a register?
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn is_reg(self) -> bool {