diff --git a/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/__init__.py b/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/__init__.py
index 421bfadc..1cf31602 100644
--- a/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/__init__.py
+++ b/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ def load_circuit(
     circuit: cirq.Circuit,
     kernel_name: str = "main",
     dialects: ir.DialectGroup = kernel,
+    register_as_argument: bool = False,
+    return_register: bool = False,
     globals: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     file: str | None = None,
     lineno_offset: int = 0,
@@ -32,13 +34,21 @@ def load_circuit(
     Keyword Args:
         kernel_name (str): The name of the kernel to load. Defaults to "main".
         dialects (ir.DialectGroup | None): The dialects to use. Defaults to `squin.kernel`.
+        register_as_argument (bool): Determine whether the resulting kernel function should accept
+            a single `ilist.IList[Qubit, Any]` argument that is a list of qubits used within the
+            function. This allows you to compose kernel functions generated from circuits.
+            Defaults to `False`.
+        return_register (bool): Determine whether the resulting kernel functionr returns a
+            single value of type `ilist.IList[Qubit, Any]` that is the list of qubits used
+            in the kernel function. Useful when you want to compose multiple kernel functions
+            generated from circuits. Defaults to `False`.
         globals (dict[str, Any] | None): The global variables to use. Defaults to None.
         file (str | None): The file name for error reporting. Defaults to None.
         lineno_offset (int): The line number offset for error reporting. Defaults to 0.
         col_offset (int): The column number offset for error reporting. Defaults to 0.
         compactify (bool): Whether to compactify the output. Defaults to True.
 
-    Example:
+    ## Usage Examples:
 
     ```python
     # from cirq's "hello qubit" example
@@ -60,6 +70,30 @@ def load_circuit(
     # print the resulting IR
     main.print()
     ```
+
+    You can also compose kernel functions generated from circuits by passing in
+    and / or returning the respective quantum registers:
+
+    ```python
+    q = cirq.LineQubit.range(2)
+    circuit = cirq.Circuit(cirq.H(q[0]), cirq.CX(*q))
+
+    get_entangled_qubits = squin.cirq.load_circuit(
+        circuit, return_register=True, kernel_name="get_entangled_qubits"
+    )
+    get_entangled_qubits.print()
+
+    entangle_qubits = squin.cirq.load_circuit(
+        circuit, register_as_argument=True, kernel_name="entangle_qubits"
+    )
+
+    @squin.kernel
+    def main():
+        qreg = get_entangled_qubits()
+        qreg2 = squin.qubit.new(1)
+        entangle_qubits([qreg[1], qreg2[0]])
+        return squin.qubit.measure(qreg2)
+    ```
     """
 
     target = Squin(dialects=dialects, circuit=circuit)
@@ -71,16 +105,34 @@ def load_circuit(
         lineno_offset=lineno_offset,
         col_offset=col_offset,
         compactify=compactify,
+        register_as_argument=register_as_argument,
     )
 
-    # NOTE: no return value
-    return_value = func.ConstantNone()
-    body.blocks[0].stmts.append(return_value)
-    body.blocks[0].stmts.append(func.Return(value_or_stmt=return_value))
+    if return_register:
+        return_value = target.qreg
+    else:
+        return_value = func.ConstantNone()
+        body.blocks[0].stmts.append(return_value)
+
+    return_node = func.Return(value_or_stmt=return_value)
+    body.blocks[0].stmts.append(return_node)
+
+    if register_as_argument:
+        args = (target.qreg.type,)
+    else:
+        args = ()
+
+    # NOTE: add _self as argument; need to know signature before so do it after lowering
+    signature = func.Signature(args, return_node.value.type)
+    body.blocks[0].args.insert_from(
+        0,
+        types.Generic(ir.Method, types.Tuple.where(signature.inputs), signature.output),
+        kernel_name + "_self",
+    )
 
     code = func.Function(
         sym_name=kernel_name,
-        signature=func.Signature((), types.NoneType),
+        signature=signature,
         body=body,
     )
 
@@ -88,7 +140,7 @@ def load_circuit(
         mod=None,
         py_func=None,
         sym_name=kernel_name,
-        arg_names=[],
+        arg_names=[arg.name for arg in body.blocks[0].args if arg.name is not None],
         dialects=dialects,
         code=code,
     )
diff --git a/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/lowering.py b/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/lowering.py
index e06a666c..0b4ab720 100644
--- a/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/lowering.py
+++ b/src/bloqade/squin/cirq/lowering.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from dataclasses import field, dataclass
 
 import cirq
-from kirin import ir, lowering
+from kirin import ir, types, lowering
 from kirin.rewrite import Walk, CFGCompactify
 from kirin.dialects import py, scf, ilist
 
@@ -25,20 +25,19 @@ class Squin(lowering.LoweringABC[CirqNode]):
     """Lower a cirq.Circuit object to a squin kernel"""
 
     circuit: cirq.Circuit
-    qreg: qubit.New = field(init=False)
+    qreg: ir.SSAValue = field(init=False)
     qreg_index: dict[cirq.Qid, int] = field(init=False, default_factory=dict)
     next_qreg_index: int = field(init=False, default=0)
 
-    def lower_qubit_getindex(self, state: lowering.State[CirqNode], qid: cirq.Qid):
-        index = self.qreg_index.get(qid)
-
-        if index is None:
-            index = self.next_qreg_index
-            self.qreg_index[qid] = index
-            self.next_qreg_index += 1
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        # TODO: sort by cirq ordering
+        qbits = sorted(self.circuit.all_qubits())
+        self.qreg_index = {qid: idx for (idx, qid) in enumerate(qbits)}
 
+    def lower_qubit_getindex(self, state: lowering.State[CirqNode], qid: cirq.Qid):
+        index = self.qreg_index[qid]
         index_ssa = state.current_frame.push(py.Constant(index)).result
-        qbit_getitem = state.current_frame.push(py.GetItem(self.qreg.result, index_ssa))
+        qbit_getitem = state.current_frame.push(py.GetItem(self.qreg, index_ssa))
         return qbit_getitem.result
 
     def lower_qubit_getindices(
@@ -64,6 +63,7 @@ def run(
         lineno_offset: int = 0,
         col_offset: int = 0,
         compactify: bool = True,
+        register_as_argument: bool = False,
     ) -> ir.Region:
 
         state = lowering.State(
@@ -73,16 +73,20 @@ def run(
             col_offset=col_offset,
         )
 
-        with state.frame(
-            [stmt],
-            globals=globals,
-            finalize_next=False,
-        ) as frame:
-            # NOTE: create a global register of qubits first
-            # TODO: can there be a circuit without qubits?
-            n_qubits = cirq.num_qubits(self.circuit)
-            n = frame.push(py.Constant(n_qubits))
-            self.qreg = frame.push(qubit.New(n_qubits=n.result))
+        with state.frame([stmt], globals=globals, finalize_next=False) as frame:
+
+            # NOTE: need a register of qubits before lowering statements
+            if register_as_argument:
+                # NOTE: register as argument to the kernel; we have freedom of choice for the name here
+                frame.curr_block.args.append_from(
+                    ilist.IListType[qubit.QubitType, types.Any], name="q"
+                )
+                self.qreg = frame.curr_block.args[0]
+            else:
+                # NOTE: create a new register of appropriate size
+                n_qubits = len(self.qreg_index)
+                n = frame.push(py.Constant(n_qubits))
+                self.qreg = frame.push(qubit.New(n_qubits=n.result)).result
 
             self.visit(state, stmt)
 
diff --git a/test/squin/cirq/test_cirq_to_squin.py b/test/squin/cirq/test_cirq_to_squin.py
index 0e7162d8..2bc63e00 100644
--- a/test/squin/cirq/test_cirq_to_squin.py
+++ b/test/squin/cirq/test_cirq_to_squin.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 import cirq
 import pytest
+from kirin import types
+from kirin.passes import inline
+from kirin.dialects import ilist
 
 from bloqade import squin
 from bloqade.pyqrack import DynamicMemorySimulator
@@ -124,6 +127,19 @@ def noise_channels():
     )
 
 
+def nested_circuit():
+    q = cirq.LineQubit.range(3)
+
+    return cirq.Circuit(
+        cirq.H(q[0]),
+        cirq.CircuitOperation(
+            cirq.Circuit(cirq.H(q[1]), cirq.CX(q[1], q[2])).freeze(),
+            use_repetition_ids=False,
+        ).controlled_by(q[0]),
+        cirq.measure(*q),
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "circuit_f",
     [
@@ -161,6 +177,66 @@ def test_circuit(circuit_f, run_sim: bool = False):
     print(ket)
 
 
+def test_return_register():
+    circuit = basic_circuit()
+    kernel = squin.load_circuit(circuit, return_register=True)
+    kernel.print()
+
+    assert isinstance(kernel.return_type, types.Generic)
+    assert kernel.return_type.body.is_subseteq(ilist.IListType)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail
+def test_nested_circuit():
+    # TODO: lowering for CircuitOperation
+    test_circuit(nested_circuit)
+
+
+def test_passing_in_register():
+    circuit = pow_gate_circuit()
+    print(circuit)
+    kernel = squin.cirq.load_circuit(circuit, register_as_argument=True)
+    kernel.print()
+
+
+def test_passing_and_returning_register():
+    circuit = pow_gate_circuit()
+    print(circuit)
+    kernel = squin.cirq.load_circuit(
+        circuit, register_as_argument=True, return_register=True
+    )
+    kernel.print()
+
+
+def test_nesting_lowered_circuit():
+    q = cirq.LineQubit.range(2)
+    circuit = cirq.Circuit(cirq.H(q[0]), cirq.CX(*q))
+
+    get_entangled_qubits = squin.cirq.load_circuit(
+        circuit, return_register=True, kernel_name="get_entangled_qubits"
+    )
+    get_entangled_qubits.print()
+
+    entangle_qubits = squin.cirq.load_circuit(
+        circuit, register_as_argument=True, kernel_name="entangle_qubits"
+    )
+
+    @squin.kernel
+    def main():
+        qreg = get_entangled_qubits()
+        qreg2 = squin.qubit.new(1)
+        entangle_qubits([qreg[1], qreg2[0]])
+        return squin.qubit.measure(qreg2)
+
+    # if you get up to here, the validation works
+    main.print()
+
+    # inline to see if the IR is correct
+    inline.InlinePass(main.dialects)(main)
+
+    main.print()
+
+
 def test_classical_control(run_sim: bool = False):
     q = cirq.LineQubit.range(2)
     circuit = cirq.Circuit(