diff --git a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/backend/emit_bytecode.rs b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/backend/emit_bytecode.rs
index fa287d73..b41e56a5 100644
--- a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/backend/emit_bytecode.rs
+++ b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/backend/emit_bytecode.rs
@@ -131,10 +131,10 @@ impl<'a> BytecodeEmitter<'a> {
                     InstrKind::BitXor => asm_instrs.push(Asm::Op(OpCode::BitXor, vec![])),
                     InstrKind::Shl => asm_instrs.push(Asm::Op(OpCode::Shl, vec![])),
                     InstrKind::Shr => asm_instrs.push(Asm::Op(OpCode::Shr, vec![])),
-                    InstrKind::GetLocal(slot) => {
+                    InstrKind::LocalLoad { slot } => {
                         asm_instrs.push(Asm::Op(OpCode::GetLocal, vec![Operand::U32(*slot)]));
                     }
-                    InstrKind::SetLocal(slot) => {
+                    InstrKind::LocalStore { slot } => {
                         asm_instrs.push(Asm::Op(OpCode::SetLocal, vec![Operand::U32(*slot)]));
                     }
                     InstrKind::GetGlobal(slot) => {
diff --git a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/ir_vm/instr.rs b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/ir_vm/instr.rs
index 50528088..497319bc 100644
--- a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/ir_vm/instr.rs
+++ b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/ir_vm/instr.rs
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ pub enum InstrKind {
     // --- Variable Access ---
     
     /// Retrieves a value from a local variable slot and pushes it onto the stack.
-    GetLocal(u32),
+    LocalLoad { slot: u32 },
     /// Pops a value from the stack and stores it in a local variable slot.
-    SetLocal(u32),
+    LocalStore { slot: u32 },
     /// Retrieves a value from a global variable slot and pushes it onto the stack.
     GetGlobal(u32),
     /// Pops a value from the stack and stores it in a global variable slot.
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ mod tests {
             InstrKind::BitXor,
             InstrKind::Shl,
             InstrKind::Shr,
-            InstrKind::GetLocal(0),
-            InstrKind::SetLocal(0),
+            InstrKind::LocalLoad { slot: 0 },
+            InstrKind::LocalStore { slot: 0 },
             InstrKind::GetGlobal(0),
             InstrKind::SetGlobal(0),
             InstrKind::Jmp(Label("target".to_string())),
@@ -266,10 +266,14 @@ mod tests {
   "Shl",
   "Shr",
   {
-    "GetLocal": 0
+    "LocalLoad": {
+      "slot": 0
+    }
   },
   {
-    "SetLocal": 0
+    "LocalStore": {
+      "slot": 0
+    }
   },
   {
     "GetGlobal": 0
@@ -322,4 +326,21 @@ mod tests {
 ]"#;
         assert_eq!(serialized, expected_json);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_no_ref_leakage_in_instr_names() {
+        // Enforce the rule that "Ref" must never refer to HIP memory in ir_vm.
+        // The snapshot test above already locks the names, but this test
+        // explicitly asserts the absence of the "Ref" substring in HIP-related instructions.
+        let instructions = [
+            "GateLoad", "GateStore", "Alloc", 
+            "GateBeginPeek", "GateEndPeek", 
+            "GateBeginBorrow", "GateEndBorrow", 
+            "GateBeginMutate", "GateEndMutate"
+        ];
+        
+        for name in instructions {
+            assert!(!name.contains("Ref"), "Instruction {} contains forbidden 'Ref' terminology", name);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/lowering/core_to_vm.rs b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/lowering/core_to_vm.rs
index cb5394fd..1cd3ed14 100644
--- a/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/lowering/core_to_vm.rs
+++ b/crates/prometeu-compiler/src/lowering/core_to_vm.rs
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ pub fn lower_function(core_func: &ir_core::Function) -> Result<ir_vm::Function>
                     arg_count: *arg_count 
                 },
                 ir_core::Instr::HostCall(id) => ir_vm::InstrKind::Syscall(*id),
-                ir_core::Instr::GetLocal(slot) => ir_vm::InstrKind::GetLocal(*slot),
-                ir_core::Instr::SetLocal(slot) => ir_vm::InstrKind::SetLocal(*slot),
+                ir_core::Instr::GetLocal(slot) => ir_vm::InstrKind::LocalLoad { slot: *slot },
+                ir_core::Instr::SetLocal(slot) => ir_vm::InstrKind::LocalStore { slot: *slot },
                 ir_core::Instr::Pop => ir_vm::InstrKind::Pop,
                 ir_core::Instr::Dup => ir_vm::InstrKind::Dup,
                 ir_core::Instr::Add => ir_vm::InstrKind::Add,