diff --git a/src/kirin/dialects/scf/lowering.py b/src/kirin/dialects/scf/lowering.py
index 17519fbff..0d24b768b 100644
--- a/src/kirin/dialects/scf/lowering.py
+++ b/src/kirin/dialects/scf/lowering.py
@@ -10,6 +10,22 @@
 @dialect.register
 class Lowering(lowering.FromPythonAST):
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _frame_or_any_parent_has_def(frame, name) -> ir.SSAValue | None:
+        # NOTE: this recursively checks all parents of the current frame for the
+        # def. Required for nested if statements that e.g. assign to variables
+        # defined in outer scope
+        if frame is None:
+            return None
+
+        if name in frame.defs:
+            value = frame.get(name)
+            if value is None:
+                raise lowering.BuildError(f"expected value for {name}")
+            return value
+
+        return Lowering._frame_or_any_parent_has_def(frame.parent, name)
+
     def lower_If(self, state: lowering.State, node: ast.If) -> lowering.Result:
         cond = state.lower(node.test).expect_one()
         frame = state.current_frame
@@ -29,21 +45,15 @@ def lower_If(self, state: lowering.State, node: ast.If) -> lowering.Result:
         yield_names: list[str] = []
         body_yields: list[ir.SSAValue] = []
         else_yields: list[ir.SSAValue] = []
-        if node.orelse:
-            for name in body_frame.defs.keys():
-                if name in else_frame.defs:
-                    yield_names.append(name)
-                    body_yields.append(body_frame[name])
-                    else_yields.append(else_frame[name])
-        else:
-            for name in body_frame.defs.keys():
-                if name in frame.defs:
-                    yield_names.append(name)
-                    body_yields.append(body_frame[name])
-                    value = frame.get(name)
-                    if value is None:
-                        raise lowering.BuildError(f"expected value for {name}")
-                    else_yields.append(value)
+        for name in body_frame.defs.keys():
+            if name in else_frame.defs:
+                yield_names.append(name)
+                body_yields.append(body_frame[name])
+                else_yields.append(else_frame[name])
+            elif (value := self._frame_or_any_parent_has_def(frame, name)) is not None:
+                yield_names.append(name)
+                body_yields.append(body_frame[name])
+                else_yields.append(value)
 
         if not (
             body_frame.curr_block.last_stmt
diff --git a/test/dialects/scf/test_ifelse.py b/test/dialects/scf/test_ifelse.py
index 01c225696..e2a67d0fc 100644
--- a/test/dialects/scf/test_ifelse.py
+++ b/test/dialects/scf/test_ifelse.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from kirin import ir
+from kirin.passes import Fold
 from kirin.prelude import python_basic
 from kirin.dialects import scf, func, lowering
 
@@ -22,24 +23,90 @@ def run_pass(method):
     return run_pass
 
 
-@kernel
-def main(x):
-    if x > 0:
-        y = x + 1
-        z = y + 1
-        return z
-    else:
-        y = x + 2
-        z = y + 2
+def test_basic_if_else():
+    @kernel
+    def main(x):
+        if x > 0:
+            y = x + 1
+            z = y + 1
+            return z
+        else:
+            y = x + 2
+            z = y + 2
 
-    if x < 0:
-        y = y + 3
-        z = y + 3
-    else:
-        y = x + 4
-        z = y + 4
-    return y, z
+        if x < 0:
+            y = y + 3
+            z = y + 3
+        else:
+            y = x + 4
+            z = y + 4
+        return y, z
 
+    main.print()
+    print(main(1))
 
-main.print()
-# print(main(1))
+
+def test_if_else_defs():
+
+    @kernel
+    def main(n: int):
+        x = 0
+
+        if x == n:
+            x = 1
+        else:
+            y = 2  # noqa: F841
+
+        return x
+
+    main.print()
+
+    # make sure fold doesn't remove the nested def
+    main2 = main.similar(kernel)
+    Fold(main2.dialects)(main2)
+
+    assert main(0) == 1 == main2(0)
+    assert main(10) == 0 == main2(4)
+
+    main2.print()
+
+    @kernel
+    def main_elif(n: int):
+        x = 0
+
+        if x == n:
+            x = 3
+        elif x == n + 1:
+            x = 4
+
+        return x
+
+    main_elif.print()
+
+    main_elif2 = main_elif.similar(kernel)
+    Fold(main_elif2.dialects)(main_elif2)
+
+    main_elif2.print()
+
+    assert main_elif(0) == 3 == main_elif2(0)
+    assert main_elif(-1) == 4 == main_elif2(-1)
+    assert main_elif(5) == 0 == main_elif2(7)
+
+    @kernel
+    def main_nested_if(n: int):
+        x = 0
+
+        if n > 0:
+            if n > 1:
+                if n == 3:
+                    x = 4
+
+        return x
+
+    main_nested_if.print()
+
+    main_nested_if2 = main_nested_if.similar(kernel)
+    Fold(main_nested_if2.dialects)(main_nested_if2)
+
+    assert main_nested_if(3) == 4 == main_nested_if2(3)
+    assert main_nested_if(10) == 0 == main_nested_if2(8)