diff --git a/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/mir/lower.rs b/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/mir/lower.rs
index 3343690..0b2b0bb 100644
--- a/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/mir/lower.rs
+++ b/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/mir/lower.rs
@@ -9840,22 +9840,22 @@ impl<'a> Lowerer<'a> {
                 // pattern matching codegen (switch on tag).
                 if name.starts_with(|c: char| c.is_uppercase()) {
                     if let Some(type_name) = find_type_for_variant(&name, self.registry) {
-                        // Verify it's actually a nullary constructor (no fields).
-                        let is_nullary = self
+                        let variant_fields = self
                             .registry
                             .sum_type_defs
                             .get(&type_name)
                             .and_then(|info| info.variants.iter().find(|v| v.name == name))
-                            .map(|v| v.fields.is_empty())
-                            .unwrap_or(false);
-                        if is_nullary {
-                            return MirPattern::Constructor {
-                                type_name,
-                                variant: name,
-                                fields: vec![],
-                                bindings: vec![],
-                            };
-                        }
+                            .map(|v| v.fields.len())
+                            .unwrap_or(0);
+                        // Nullary constructor: no fields.
+                        // Payload-bearing constructor without explicit binder: treat as
+                        // Constructor(_) -- wildcards cover all fields, bind nothing.
+                        return MirPattern::Constructor {
+                            type_name,
+                            variant: name,
+                            fields: vec![MirPattern::Wildcard; variant_fields],
+                            bindings: vec![],
+                        };
                     }
                 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/mesh-typeck/src/infer.rs b/compiler/mesh-typeck/src/infer.rs
index fce7782..0aa2ede 100644
--- a/compiler/mesh-typeck/src/infer.rs
+++ b/compiler/mesh-typeck/src/infer.rs
@@ -8732,11 +8732,12 @@ fn ast_pattern_to_abstract(pat: &Pattern, env: &TypeEnv, type_registry: &TypeReg
                 if let Some(_scheme) = env.lookup(&name_text) {
                     // Check if this resolves to a sum type constructor by looking
                     // at the type registry for a variant with this name.
-                    if let Some((sum_info, _variant)) = type_registry.lookup_variant(&name_text) {
+                    if let Some((sum_info, variant)) = type_registry.lookup_variant(&name_text) {
+                        let arity = variant.fields.len();
                         return AbsPat::Constructor {
                             name: name_text,
                             type_name: sum_info.name.clone(),
-                            args: vec![],
+                            args: vec![AbsPat::Wildcard; arity],
                         };
                     }
                 }
@@ -9960,6 +9961,8 @@ fn infer_pattern(
                 // Check if this identifier is a known nullary variant constructor.
                 // In Mesh, bare uppercase names like `Red`, `None`, `Point` in pattern
                 // position should resolve to constructors, not create fresh bindings.
+                // Bare payload-bearing constructors like `Ok` or `Err` (no parens) are
+                // treated as `Ok(_)` / `Err(_)` -- match the constructor, ignore payload.
                 if let Some(scheme) = env.lookup(&name_text) {
                     let candidate = ctx.instantiate(scheme);
                     let resolved = ctx.resolve(candidate.clone());
@@ -9970,6 +9973,14 @@ fn infer_pattern(
                         types.insert(pat.syntax().text_range(), candidate.clone());
                         return Ok(candidate);
                     }
+                    // Uppercase + function type → payload-bearing constructor used bare.
+                    // Return the constructor's result type; the payload is implicitly wildcarded.
+                    if name_text.starts_with(|c: char| c.is_uppercase()) {
+                        if let Ty::Fun(_, ret) = resolved {
+                            types.insert(pat.syntax().text_range(), (*ret).clone());
+                            return Ok(*ret);
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
 
                 // Regular identifier pattern: create a fresh binding.
diff --git a/compiler/mesh-typeck/tests/exhaustiveness_integration.rs b/compiler/mesh-typeck/tests/exhaustiveness_integration.rs
index 0eeb2e8..35fc051 100644
--- a/compiler/mesh-typeck/tests/exhaustiveness_integration.rs
+++ b/compiler/mesh-typeck/tests/exhaustiveness_integration.rs
@@ -268,3 +268,35 @@ fn test_or_pattern_covers_all_variants() {
     );
     assert_no_errors(&result);
 }
+
+// ── Bare payload-bearing constructor patterns ────────────────────────
+
+/// Bare `Ok` / `Err` without explicit binder compiles as sugar for `Ok(_)` / `Err(_)`.
+#[test]
+fn test_bare_payload_constructor_is_exhaustive() {
+    let result = check_source(
+        "let r = Ok(1)\n\
+         case r do\n  Ok -> 1\n  Err -> 0\nend",
+    );
+    assert_no_errors(&result);
+}
+
+/// Bare `Some` without binder is sugar for `Some(_)`.
+#[test]
+fn test_bare_some_constructor_is_exhaustive() {
+    let result = check_source(
+        "let o = Some(42)\n\
+         case o do\n  Some -> 1\n  None -> 0\nend",
+    );
+    assert_no_errors(&result);
+}
+
+/// Mix of bare and explicit binder forms in the same case is valid.
+#[test]
+fn test_bare_and_explicit_binder_mixed() {
+    let result = check_source(
+        "let r = Ok(1)\n\
+         case r do\n  Ok(_) -> 1\n  Err -> 0\nend",
+    );
+    assert_no_errors(&result);
+}
diff --git a/compiler/meshc/tests/e2e.rs b/compiler/meshc/tests/e2e.rs
index a3cf3da..b0936ca 100644
--- a/compiler/meshc/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/compiler/meshc/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -7154,3 +7154,38 @@ fn e2e_m032_limit_timer_service_cast() {
     let output = compile_and_run(M032_TIMER_SERVICE_CAST_MAIN);
     assert_eq!(output, "0\n");
 }
+
+/// Bare payload-bearing constructor in pattern position (no explicit binder).
+/// `Ok` / `Err` without `(_)` must compile and match correctly -- sugar for `Ok(_)`.
+#[test]
+fn e2e_bare_payload_constructor_pattern() {
+    let output = compile_and_run(
+        r#"
+fn main() do
+  let r = Err("boom")
+  case r do
+    Ok -> println("ok")
+    Err -> println("err")
+  end
+end
+"#,
+    );
+    assert_eq!(output, "err\n");
+}
+
+/// Bare `Ok` with actual Ok value hits the Ok arm.
+#[test]
+fn e2e_bare_payload_constructor_ok_arm() {
+    let output = compile_and_run(
+        r#"
+fn main() do
+  let r = Ok(42)
+  case r do
+    Ok -> println("ok")
+    Err -> println("err")
+  end
+end
+"#,
+    );
+    assert_eq!(output, "ok\n");
+}