diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 33875c9..9956a02 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -66,9 +66,8 @@ target_include_directories(sapphirec PUBLIC src/external/tclap-1.2.5/include)
 target_include_directories(sapphirec PUBLIC src/external)
 target_precompile_headers(sapphirec PUBLIC src/sapphirepch.h)
 
-llvm_map_components_to_libnames(llvm_libs support core irreader)
+llvm_map_components_to_libnames(llvm_libs all core support irreader x86asmparser x86codegen x86desc x86disassembler x86info x86targetmca aarch64asmparser aarch64codegen aarch64desc aarch64disassembler aarch64info aarch64utils)
 
-# Link against LLVM libraries
 target_link_libraries(sapphirec ${llvm_libs})
 
 install(TARGETS sapphirec)
diff --git a/src/Arguments.cpp b/src/Arguments.cpp
index d49428f..5b3d34c 100644
--- a/src/Arguments.cpp
+++ b/src/Arguments.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ std::string Arguments::output_fname;
 bool Arguments::wimport;
 llvm::Triple Arguments::TargetTriple;
 std::string Arguments::cpu;
+bool Arguments::emit_llvm;
 
 void Arguments::parse(int argc, char** argv)
 {
@@ -17,20 +18,28 @@ void Arguments::parse(int argc, char** argv)
     {
         TCLAP::CmdLine command_line("The Sapphire compiler.", ' ', "0.1");
 
-        TCLAP::UnlabeledValueArg<std::string> input_fname_arg("file", "Input file.", true, "test.sp", "string");
+        TCLAP::UnlabeledValueArg<std::string> input_fname_arg("file", "Input file.", true, "program.sp", "string");
 
-        TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> output_fname_arg("o", "output", "Output file.", false, "sp-output", "string");
+        TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> output_fname_arg("o", "output", "Output file.", false, "output.o", "string");
         TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> march_arg("", "march", "Architecture to compile for.", false, "native", "string");
         TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> mcpu_arg("", "mcpu", "CPU to compile for.", false, "generic", "string");
         TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> msystem_arg("", "msystem", "Operating System to compile for.", false, "native",
                                                  "string");
 
+        TCLAP::SwitchArg emit_llvm_arg("", "emit-llvm", "Emit LLVM IR instead of an object file.");
+
+#ifndef NO_BENCHMARKING
         TCLAP::SwitchArg mprofile_arg("", "mprofile", "Show execution times for functions.");
+#endif
 
         TCLAP::SwitchArg wimport_arg("", "wimport", "Show a warning when trying to import an already imported file.");
 
         command_line.add(wimport_arg);
+        command_line.add(emit_llvm_arg);
+
+#ifndef NO_BENCHMARKING
         command_line.add(mprofile_arg);
+#endif
 
         command_line.add(input_fname_arg);
         command_line.add(output_fname_arg);
@@ -44,12 +53,15 @@ void Arguments::parse(int argc, char** argv)
         input_fname = input_fname_arg.getValue();
         output_fname = output_fname_arg.getValue();
         wimport = wimport_arg.getValue();
+        emit_llvm = emit_llvm_arg.getValue();
 
         cpu = mcpu_arg.getValue();
 
         setTriple(march_arg.getValue(), msystem_arg.getValue());
 
+#ifndef NO_BENCHMARKING
         if (mprofile_arg.getValue()) __benchmark_impl::enable();
+#endif
     }
     catch (TCLAP::ArgException& e)
     {
@@ -68,10 +80,11 @@ void Arguments::setTriple(const std::string& arch, const std::string& system)
     }
     if (system != "native")
     {
-        targetTriple.setOSAndEnvironmentName(system);
+        targetTriple.setOSName(system);
     }
 
     targetTriple.setVendor(llvm::Triple::VendorType::UnknownVendor); // let's leave it like that
+    targetTriple.setEnvironment(llvm::Triple::EnvironmentType::UnknownEnvironment);
 
     TargetTriple = targetTriple;
 }
diff --git a/src/Arguments.h b/src/Arguments.h
index 5b9af55..fd8d2cc 100644
--- a/src/Arguments.h
+++ b/src/Arguments.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ struct Arguments
     static std::string output_fname;
 
     static bool wimport;
+    static bool emit_llvm;
 
     static std::string cpu;
 
diff --git a/src/Error.cpp b/src/Error.cpp
index b65287e..0aa6a34 100644
--- a/src/Error.cpp
+++ b/src/Error.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,18 @@ void Error::show_import_lines(const Location& loc, void (*import_line_printer)(c
     exit(1);
 }
 
+void Error::throw_warning_without_location(const std::string& details)
+{
+    std::cerr << "\033[1;1m";
+
+    std::cerr << "\033[33;49m";
+    std::cerr << "warning: ";
+
+    std::cerr << "\033[0;0m";
+    std::cerr << details;
+    std::cerr << std::endl;
+}
+
 void Error::throw_warning(const Location& loc, const std::string line_text, const std::string& details)
 {
     show_import_lines(loc, show_import_line, std::cout);
diff --git a/src/Error.h b/src/Error.h
index f6efd57..3cc3775 100644
--- a/src/Error.h
+++ b/src/Error.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ void show_import_line(const Location& loc, std::ostream& output_stream);
 
 void throw_warning(const Location& loc, const std::string line_text, const std::string& details);
 
+void throw_warning_without_location(const std::string& details);
+
 void show_import_lines(const Location& loc, void (*import_line_printer)(const Location&, std::ostream&),
                        std::ostream& stream);
 } // namespace Error
diff --git a/src/IRBuilder.cpp b/src/IRBuilder.cpp
index cc585d5..ed9ebd2 100644
--- a/src/IRBuilder.cpp
+++ b/src/IRBuilder.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
 #include "IRBuilder.h"
 #include "Arguments.h"
+#include "Error.h"
 #include "llvm/IR/Function.h"
+#include "llvm/IR/LegacyPassManager.h"
 #include "llvm/IR/Value.h"
 #include "llvm/IR/Verifier.h"
+#include "llvm/MC/TargetRegistry.h"
+#include "llvm/Support/CodeGen.h"
+#include "llvm/Support/FileSystem.h"
+#include "llvm/Support/Host.h"
+#include "llvm/Support/TargetSelect.h"
+#include "llvm/Target/TargetMachine.h"
+#include "llvm/Target/TargetOptions.h"
 
 IRBuilder::IRBuilder()
 {
@@ -31,12 +40,76 @@ void IRBuilder::create_main_function(std::shared_ptr<ASTNode> expression)
     llvm::verifyFunction(*main);
 }
 
-std::string IRBuilder::getGeneratedIR()
+void IRBuilder::resolveToLLVMIR(std::string path)
 {
-    std::string str;
-    llvm::raw_string_ostream oss(str);
+    std::error_code EC;
+    llvm::raw_fd_ostream dest(path, EC, llvm::sys::fs::OF_None);
 
-    module->print(oss, nullptr);
+    if (EC)
+    {
+        Error::throw_error_without_location("Could not open file " + Arguments::output_fname + " :" + EC.message());
+    }
 
-    return oss.str();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    module->print(dest, nullptr);
+    dest.flush();
+}
+
+void IRBuilder::resolveToObjectFile(std::string path)
+{
+    // edit this section when adding support for more architectures
+    LLVMInitializeX86TargetInfo();
+    LLVMInitializeAArch64TargetInfo();
+    LLVMInitializeX86Target();
+    LLVMInitializeAArch64Target();
+    LLVMInitializeX86TargetMC();
+    LLVMInitializeAArch64TargetMC();
+    LLVMInitializeX86AsmParser();
+    LLVMInitializeAArch64AsmParser();
+    LLVMInitializeX86AsmPrinter();
+    LLVMInitializeAArch64AsmPrinter();
+
+    std::string TargetTriple = Arguments::TargetTriple.getTriple();
+
+    module->setTargetTriple(TargetTriple);
+
+    std::string err;
+    auto Target = llvm::TargetRegistry::lookupTarget(TargetTriple, err);
+    if (!Target)
+    {
+        Error::throw_error_without_location(err);
+    }
+    std::string CPU;
+    if (Arguments::cpu == "native")
+    {
+        CPU = llvm::sys::getHostCPUName();
+        Error::throw_warning_without_location("Using host CPU: " + CPU);
+    }
+    else
+        CPU = Arguments::cpu;
+    auto Features = "";
+
+    llvm::TargetOptions opt;
+    auto RM = llvm::Optional<llvm::Reloc::Model>();
+    auto TheTargetMachine = Target->createTargetMachine(TargetTriple, CPU, Features, opt, RM);
+
+    module->setDataLayout(TheTargetMachine->createDataLayout());
+
+    std::error_code EC;
+    llvm::raw_fd_ostream dest(path, EC, llvm::sys::fs::OF_None);
+
+    if (EC)
+    {
+        Error::throw_error_without_location("Could not open file " + Arguments::output_fname + " :" + EC.message());
+    }
+
+    llvm::legacy::PassManager pass;
+    auto FileType = llvm::CGFT_ObjectFile;
+
+    if (TheTargetMachine->addPassesToEmitFile(pass, dest, nullptr, FileType))
+    {
+        Error::throw_error_without_location("Cannot emit object file");
+    }
+
+    pass.run(*module);
+    dest.flush();
+}
diff --git a/src/IRBuilder.h b/src/IRBuilder.h
index 98e883b..f28baee 100644
--- a/src/IRBuilder.h
+++ b/src/IRBuilder.h
@@ -19,5 +19,7 @@ class IRBuilder
 
     llvm::IRBuilder<>* getBuilder();
 
-    std::string getGeneratedIR();
+    void resolveToLLVMIR(std::string path);
+
+    void resolveToObjectFile(std::string path);
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/sapphire.cpp b/src/sapphire.cpp
index b2c4cf3..732adc6 100644
--- a/src/sapphire.cpp
+++ b/src/sapphire.cpp
@@ -48,5 +48,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         builder.create_main_function(ast);
     }
 
-    std::cout << builder.getGeneratedIR();
+    if (Arguments::emit_llvm) builder.resolveToLLVMIR(Arguments::output_fname);
+    else
+        builder.resolveToObjectFile(Arguments::output_fname);
 }
diff --git a/src/utils.cpp b/src/utils.cpp
index 55ff7b0..c7f3731 100644
--- a/src/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ std::string to_string(const float& value)
     return result.str();
 }
 
+#ifndef NO_BENCHMARKING
+
 __benchmark_impl::__benchmark_impl(std::string_view __function_name) : m_FunctionName(__function_name)
 {
     m_InternalBenchmarkingEnabled = m_BenchmarkingEnabled;
@@ -59,4 +61,6 @@ void __benchmark_impl::enable()
     m_BenchmarkingEnabled = true;
 }
 
-bool __benchmark_impl::m_BenchmarkingEnabled;
\ No newline at end of file
+bool __benchmark_impl::m_BenchmarkingEnabled;
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utils.h b/src/utils.h
index 050db1c..c64c267 100644
--- a/src/utils.h
+++ b/src/utils.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ std::string to_string(const int& value);
 std::string to_string(const float& value);
 
 /* Benchmarking utilities. */
+#ifndef NO_BENCHMARKING
 
 class __benchmark_impl
 {
@@ -44,4 +45,7 @@ class __benchmark_impl
     bool m_InternalBenchmarkingEnabled;
 };
 
-#define benchmark(message) __benchmark_impl __benchmark_impl_timer(message)
\ No newline at end of file
+#define benchmark(message) __benchmark_impl __benchmark_impl_timer(message)
+#else
+#define benchmark(message)
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test.py b/test.py
index 57b523a..016e904 100755
--- a/test.py
+++ b/test.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 import subprocess
 import json
 import os
-import argparse
 import sys
+import shutil
 
 
 def load_test_case(filename: str) -> dict:
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ def test_test_case(test_case: dict) -> bool:
     compiler_stdout = compiler["stdout"]
     compiler_stderr = compiler["stderr"]
     command = " ".join(["build/sapphirec", filepath, "-o",
-                       ".tests-bin/exe"] + extra_flags)
+                       ".tests-bin/output.o"] + extra_flags)
     print(f"-> Running command: {command}")
-    compile_task = subprocess.Popen(["build/sapphirec", filepath, "-o", ".tests-bin/exe"] + extra_flags,
+    compile_task = subprocess.Popen(["build/sapphirec", filepath, "-o", ".tests-bin/output.o"] + extra_flags,
                                     stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
     retcode = compile_task.wait()
     retstdout = compile_task.stdout.read().decode('utf-8')
@@ -42,6 +42,33 @@ def test_test_case(test_case: dict) -> bool:
         print("-> Test failed: compiler stderr does not match test case")
         print(retstderr)
         return False
+    runtime = test_case.get("run", False)
+    if runtime is not False:
+        print("-> Running command: gcc .tests-bin/output.o -o .tests-bin/output")
+        link_task = subprocess.Popen(["gcc", ".tests-bin/output.o", "-o", ".tests-bin/output"] + extra_flags,
+                                     stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        if link_task.wait() != 0:
+            print(f"-> Failed to link program")
+            return False
+        print(f"-> Running command: .tests-bin/output")
+        runtime_task = subprocess.Popen([".tests-bin/output"],
+                                        stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        runtime_code = runtime_task.wait()
+        runtime_stdout = runtime_task.stdout.read().decode('utf-8')
+        runtime_stderr = runtime_task.stderr.read().decode('utf-8')
+        test_code = runtime["exit-code"]
+        if runtime_code != runtime["exit-code"]:
+            print(
+                f"-> Test failed: program exited with code {str(runtime_code)} (expected {str(test_code)})")
+            return False
+        if runtime_stdout != runtime["stdout"]:
+            print("-> Test failed: program stdout does not match test case")
+            print(retstdout)
+            return False
+        if runtime_stderr != runtime["stderr"]:
+            print("-> Test failed: program stderr does not match test case")
+            print(retstderr)
+            return False
     print("-> Test succeeded")
     return True
 
@@ -50,7 +77,7 @@ test_cases = []
 
 
 def run_tests():
-    os.mkdir(".tests-bin")
+    os.makedirs(".tests-bin", exist_ok=True)
     for filename in os.listdir("tests"):
         if filename.endswith(".json"):
             test_cases.append(load_test_case(os.path.join("tests", filename)))
@@ -60,21 +87,21 @@ def run_tests():
     for test_case in test_cases:
         if not test_test_case(test_case):
             print("-> Test suite failed")
-            os.rmdir(".tests-bin")
+            shutil.rmtree(".tests-bin")
             sys.exit(1)
     else:
         print("-> Test suite succeeded")
-    os.rmdir(".tests-bin")
+    shutil.rmtree(".tests-bin")
 
 
 def create_test(filename: str, extra_flags: list):
-    os.mkdir(".tests-bin")
+    os.makedirs(".tests-bin", exist_ok=True)
     test_case = {}
     test_case["file"] = filename
     filepath = os.path.join("tests", filename)
     compiler = {}
     compiler["flags"] = extra_flags
-    compile_task = subprocess.Popen(["build/sapphirec", filepath, "-o", ".tests-bin/exe"] + extra_flags,
+    compile_task = subprocess.Popen(["build/sapphirec", filepath, "-o", ".tests-bin/output.o"] + extra_flags,
                                     stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
     retcode = compile_task.wait()
     retstdout = compile_task.stdout.read().decode('utf-8')
@@ -83,11 +110,26 @@ def create_test(filename: str, extra_flags: list):
     compiler["stdout"] = retstdout
     compiler["stderr"] = retstderr
     test_case["compile"] = compiler
+    if retcode == 0:
+        link_task = subprocess.Popen(["gcc", ".tests-bin/output.o", "-o", ".tests-bin/output"] + extra_flags,
+                                     stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        link_status = link_task.wait()
+        if link_status == 0:
+            program = {}
+            runtime_task = subprocess.Popen([".tests-bin/output"],
+                                            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+            runtime_code = runtime_task.wait()
+            runtime_stdout = runtime_task.stdout.read().decode('utf-8')
+            runtime_stderr = runtime_task.stderr.read().decode('utf-8')
+            program["exit-code"] = runtime_code
+            program["stdout"] = runtime_stdout
+            program["stderr"] = runtime_stderr
+            test_case["run"] = program
     ofilepath = ".".join(filepath.split(".")[:-1]) + ".json"
     ofile = open(ofilepath, "w+")
     json.dump(test_case, ofile)
     ofile.close()
-    os.rmdir(".tests-bin")
+    shutil.rmtree(".tests-bin")
 
 
 if len(sys.argv) < 2:
diff --git a/tests/calc.json b/tests/calc.json
index e8b462d..7473b2c 100644
--- a/tests/calc.json
+++ b/tests/calc.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"file": "calc.sp", "compile": {"flags": [], "exit-code": 0, "stdout": "; ModuleID = 'tests/calc.sp'\nsource_filename = \"tests/calc.sp\"\n\ndefine i32 @main() {\nentry:\n  ret i32 16\n}\n", "stderr": ""}}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"file": "calc.sp", "compile": {"flags": [], "exit-code": 0, "stdout": "", "stderr": ""}, "run": {"exit-code": 16, "stdout": "", "stderr": ""}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/calc.sp b/tests/calc.sp
index 17645a9..46ec7e5 100644
--- a/tests/calc.sp
+++ b/tests/calc.sp
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1 + 3 * 5
+1 + 3 * 5
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/wimport.json b/tests/wimport.json
index 20b2156..b2f32a7 100644
--- a/tests/wimport.json
+++ b/tests/wimport.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"file": "wimport.sp", "compile": {"flags": [], "exit-code": 1, "stdout": "", "stderr": "\u001b[1;1mtests/wimport.sp:1:22: \u001b[31;49merror: \u001b[0;0mexpected a number\n1    \n                          \u001b[31;49m^\u001b[0;0m\n"}}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"file": "wimport.sp", "compile": {"flags": ["--wimport"], "exit-code": 1, "stdout": "\u001b[1;1mtests/wimport.sp:1:8: \u001b[33;49mwarning: \u001b[0;0mfile already imported, skipping\n1    import tests/wimport;\n            \u001b[33;49m^\u001b[0;0m\n", "stderr": "\u001b[1;1mtests/wimport.sp:1:22: \u001b[31;49merror: \u001b[0;0mexpected a number\n1    \n                          \u001b[31;49m^\u001b[0;0m\n"}}
\ No newline at end of file