diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/algoboy.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/algoboy.mjs
index 399370e19..eba95b98f 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/algoboy.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/algoboy.mjs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'light',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: '#0f380f' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: '#0f380f' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: '#0f380f' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: '#0f380f' },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/blackscreen.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/blackscreen.mjs
index 135285a37..5671a6d83 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/blackscreen.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/blackscreen.mjs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'dark',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: 'white' },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/bluescreen.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/bluescreen.mjs
index aa6489d6f..eb04c4118 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/bluescreen.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/bluescreen.mjs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'dark',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: 'white' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: 'white' },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/strudel-theme.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/strudel-theme.mjs
index 4ae310609..4ec3ab929 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/strudel-theme.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/strudel-theme.mjs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export default createTheme({
     gutterForeground: '#8a919966',
   },
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: '#89ddff' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: '#c792ea' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: '#89ddff' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: '#eeffff' },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/teletext.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/teletext.mjs
index 5fd9a5570..ddbf7b330 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/teletext.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/teletext.mjs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'dark',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: colorB },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: colorA },
     { tag: t.operator, color: mini },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: colorA },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/terminal.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/terminal.mjs
index 1374bb867..90c6e1d25 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/terminal.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/terminal.mjs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'dark',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: '#41FF00' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: '#41FF00' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: '#41FF00' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: '#41FF00' },
diff --git a/packages/codemirror/themes/whitescreen.mjs b/packages/codemirror/themes/whitescreen.mjs
index 22abad9e9..5abbb1ea9 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/themes/whitescreen.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/themes/whitescreen.mjs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export default createTheme({
   theme: 'light',
   settings,
   styles: [
+    { tag: t.labelName, color: 'black' },
     { tag: t.keyword, color: 'black' },
     { tag: t.operator, color: 'black' },
     { tag: t.special(t.variableName), color: 'black' },
diff --git a/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs b/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
index 72f2e8510..a49b353d1 100644
--- a/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
+++ b/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ export function transpiler(input, options = {}) {
       if (isBareSamplesCall(node, parent)) {
         return this.replace(withAwait(node));
       }
+      if (isLabelStatement(node)) {
+        return this.replace(labelToP(node));
+      }
     },
     leave(node, parent, prop, index) {},
   });
@@ -132,3 +135,33 @@ function withAwait(node) {
     argument: node,
   };
 }
+
+function isLabelStatement(node) {
+  return node.type === 'LabeledStatement';
+}
+
+// converts label expressions to p calls: "x: y" to "y.p('x')"
+// see https://github.com/tidalcycles/strudel/issues/990
+function labelToP(node) {
+  return {
+    type: 'ExpressionStatement',
+    expression: {
+      type: 'CallExpression',
+      callee: {
+        type: 'MemberExpression',
+        object: node.body.expression,
+        property: {
+          type: 'Identifier',
+          name: 'p',
+        },
+      },
+      arguments: [
+        {
+          type: 'Literal',
+          value: node.label.name,
+          raw: `'${node.label.name}'`,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+  };
+}