diff --git a/setup_koans_test.go b/setup_koans_test.go
index 75160d8..b23acd0 100644
--- a/setup_koans_test.go
+++ b/setup_koans_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 var __string__ string = "impossibly lame value"
 var __int__ int = -1
+var __byte__ byte = 255
 var __bool__ bool = false
 
 func TestKoans(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/strings.go b/strings.go
index f746410..39b224b 100644
--- a/strings.go
+++ b/strings.go
@@ -3,29 +3,28 @@ package go_koans
 import "fmt"
 
 func testStrings() {
-  assert("a" + "bc" == "abc") // string concatenation need not be difficult
-  assert(len("abc") == 3) // and bounds are thoroughly checked at compile time
+  assert("a" + __string__ == "abc") // string concatenation need not be difficult
+  assert(len("abc") == __int__) // and bounds are thoroughly checked at compile time
 
-  assert("abc"[0] == 'a') // their contents are reminiscent of C
+  assert("abc"[0] == __byte__) // their contents are reminiscent of C
 
-  assert("smith"[2:] == "ith") // slicing may omit the end point
-  assert("smith"[:4] == "smit") // or the beginning
-  assert("smith"[2:4] == "it") // or neither
-  assert("smith"[:] == "smith") // or both
+  assert("smith"[2:] == __string__) // slicing may omit the end point
+  assert("smith"[:4] == __string__) // or the beginning
+  assert("smith"[2:4] == __string__) // or neither
+  assert("smith"[:] == __string__) // or both
 
-  assert("smith" == "smith") // they can be compared directly
-  assert("smith" > "foo") // and allow correct but generally useless comparisons
-  assert("smith" < "zoo") // i suppose maybe this could be useful.. someday
+  assert("smith" == __string__) // they can be compared directly
+  assert("smith" < __string__) // i suppose maybe this could be useful.. someday
 
   bytes := []byte{'a', 'b', 'c'}
-  assert(string(bytes) == "abc") // strings can be created from byte-slices
+  assert(string(bytes) == __string__) // strings can be created from byte-slices
 
   bytes[0] = 'z'
-  assert(string(bytes) == "zbc") // byte-slices can be mutated, although strings cannot
+  assert(string(bytes) == __string__) // byte-slices can be mutated, although strings cannot
 
-  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello %s", "world") == "hello world") // our old friend sprintf returns
-  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello \"%s\"", "world") == "hello \"world\"") // quoting is familiar
-  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello %q", "world") == "hello \"world\"") // although it can be done easilier
+  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello %s", __string__) == "hello world") // our old friend sprintf returns
+  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello \"%s\"", "world") == __string__) // quoting is familiar
+  assert(fmt.Sprintf("hello %q", "world") == __string__) // although it can be done easilier
 
-  assert(fmt.Sprintf("your balance: %d and %0.2f", 3, 4.5589) == "your balance: 3 and 4.56") // "the root of all evil" is actually a misquotation, by the way
+  assert(fmt.Sprintf("your balance: %d and %0.2f", 3, 4.5589) == __string__) // "the root of all evil" is actually a misquotation, by the way
 }