diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/fmtmap_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/fmtmap_test.go
index e62b9613e1..9bc059c2e4 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/fmtmap_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/fmtmap_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ var knownFormats = map[string]string{
 	"*math/big.Int %s":                             "",
 	"[]cmd/compile/internal/syntax.token %s":       "",
 	"cmd/compile/internal/arm.shift %d":            "",
+	"cmd/compile/internal/gc.RegIndex %d":          "",
 	"cmd/compile/internal/gc.initKind %d":          "",
 	"cmd/compile/internal/ir.Class %d":             "",
 	"cmd/compile/internal/ir.Node %+v":             "",
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19de14d48c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,351 @@
+// Copyright 2020 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package gc
+
+import (
+	"cmd/compile/internal/types"
+	"cmd/internal/src"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+//......................................................................
+//
+// Public/exported bits of the ABI utilities.
+//
+
+// ABIParamResultInfo stores the results of processing a given
+// function type to compute stack layout and register assignments. For
+// each input and output parameter we capture whether the param was
+// register-assigned (and to which register(s)) or the stack offset
+// for the param if is not going to be passed in registers according
+// to the rules in the Go internal ABI specification (1.17).
+type ABIParamResultInfo struct {
+	inparams          []ABIParamAssignment // Includes receiver for method calls.  Does NOT include hidden closure pointer.
+	outparams         []ABIParamAssignment
+	intSpillSlots     int
+	floatSpillSlots   int
+	offsetToSpillArea int64
+	config            ABIConfig // to enable String() method
+}
+
+// RegIndex stores the index into the set of machine registers used by
+// the ABI on a specific architecture for parameter passing.  RegIndex
+// values 0 through N-1 (where N is the number of integer registers
+// used for param passing according to the ABI rules) describe integer
+// registers; values N through M (where M is the number of floating
+// point registers used).  Thus if the ABI says there are 5 integer
+// registers and 7 floating point registers, then RegIndex value of 4
+// indicates the 5th integer register, and a RegIndex value of 11
+// indicates the 7th floating point register.
+type RegIndex uint8
+
+// ABIParamAssignment holds information about how a specific param or
+// result will be passed: in registers (in which case 'Registers' is
+// populated) or on the stack (in which case 'Offset' is set to a
+// non-negative stack offset. The values in 'Registers' are indices (as
+// described above), not architected registers.
+type ABIParamAssignment struct {
+	Type      *types.Type
+	Registers []RegIndex
+	Offset    int32
+}
+
+// RegAmounts holds a specified number of integer/float registers.
+type RegAmounts struct {
+	intRegs   int
+	floatRegs int
+}
+
+// ABIConfig captures the number of registers made available
+// by the ABI rules for parameter passing and result returning.
+type ABIConfig struct {
+	// Do we need anything more than this?
+	regAmounts RegAmounts
+}
+
+// ABIAnalyze takes a function type 't' and an ABI rules description
+// 'config' and analyzes the function to determine how its parameters
+// and results will be passed (in registers or on the stack), returning
+// an ABIParamResultInfo object that holds the results of the analysis.
+func ABIAnalyze(t *types.Type, config ABIConfig) ABIParamResultInfo {
+	setup()
+	s := assignState{
+		rTotal: config.regAmounts,
+	}
+	result := ABIParamResultInfo{config: config}
+
+	// Receiver
+	ft := t.FuncType()
+	if t.NumRecvs() != 0 {
+		rfsl := ft.Receiver.FieldSlice()
+		result.inparams = append(result.inparams,
+			s.assignParamOrReturn(rfsl[0].Type))
+	}
+
+	// Inputs
+	ifsl := ft.Params.FieldSlice()
+	for _, f := range ifsl {
+		result.inparams = append(result.inparams,
+			s.assignParamOrReturn(f.Type))
+	}
+	s.stackOffset = Rnd(s.stackOffset, int64(Widthreg))
+
+	// Record number of spill slots needed.
+	result.intSpillSlots = s.rUsed.intRegs
+	result.floatSpillSlots = s.rUsed.floatRegs
+
+	// Outputs
+	s.rUsed = RegAmounts{}
+	ofsl := ft.Results.FieldSlice()
+	for _, f := range ofsl {
+		result.outparams = append(result.outparams, s.assignParamOrReturn(f.Type))
+	}
+	result.offsetToSpillArea = s.stackOffset
+
+	return result
+}
+
+//......................................................................
+//
+// Non-public portions.
+
+// regString produces a human-readable version of a RegIndex.
+func (c *RegAmounts) regString(r RegIndex) string {
+	if int(r) < c.intRegs {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("I%d", int(r))
+	} else if int(r) < c.intRegs+c.floatRegs {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("F%d", int(r)-c.intRegs)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("<?>%d", r)
+}
+
+// toString method renders an ABIParamAssignment in human-readable
+// form, suitable for debugging or unit testing.
+func (ri *ABIParamAssignment) toString(config ABIConfig) string {
+	regs := "R{"
+	for _, r := range ri.Registers {
+		regs += " " + config.regAmounts.regString(r)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s } offset: %d typ: %v", regs, ri.Offset, ri.Type)
+}
+
+// toString method renders an ABIParamResultInfo in human-readable
+// form, suitable for debugging or unit testing.
+func (ri *ABIParamResultInfo) String() string {
+	res := ""
+	for k, p := range ri.inparams {
+		res += fmt.Sprintf("IN %d: %s\n", k, p.toString(ri.config))
+	}
+	for k, r := range ri.outparams {
+		res += fmt.Sprintf("OUT %d: %s\n", k, r.toString(ri.config))
+	}
+	res += fmt.Sprintf("intspill: %d floatspill: %d offsetToSpillArea: %d",
+		ri.intSpillSlots, ri.floatSpillSlots, ri.offsetToSpillArea)
+	return res
+}
+
+// assignState holds intermediate state during the register assigning process
+// for a given function signature.
+type assignState struct {
+	rTotal      RegAmounts // total reg amounts from ABI rules
+	rUsed       RegAmounts // regs used by params completely assigned so far
+	pUsed       RegAmounts // regs used by the current param (or pieces therein)
+	stackOffset int64      // current stack offset
+}
+
+// stackSlot returns a stack offset for a param or result of the
+// specified type.
+func (state *assignState) stackSlot(t *types.Type) int64 {
+	if t.Align > 0 {
+		state.stackOffset = Rnd(state.stackOffset, int64(t.Align))
+	}
+	rv := state.stackOffset
+	state.stackOffset += t.Width
+	return rv
+}
+
+// allocateRegs returns a set of register indices for a parameter or result
+// that we've just determined to be register-assignable. The number of registers
+// needed is assumed to be stored in state.pUsed.
+func (state *assignState) allocateRegs() []RegIndex {
+	regs := []RegIndex{}
+
+	// integer
+	for r := state.rUsed.intRegs; r < state.rUsed.intRegs+state.pUsed.intRegs; r++ {
+		regs = append(regs, RegIndex(r))
+	}
+	state.rUsed.intRegs += state.pUsed.intRegs
+
+	// floating
+	for r := state.rUsed.floatRegs; r < state.rUsed.floatRegs+state.pUsed.floatRegs; r++ {
+		regs = append(regs, RegIndex(r+state.rTotal.intRegs))
+	}
+	state.rUsed.floatRegs += state.pUsed.floatRegs
+
+	return regs
+}
+
+// regAllocate creates a register ABIParamAssignment object for a param
+// or result with the specified type, as a final step (this assumes
+// that all of the safety/suitability analysis is complete).
+func (state *assignState) regAllocate(t *types.Type) ABIParamAssignment {
+	return ABIParamAssignment{
+		Type:      t,
+		Registers: state.allocateRegs(),
+		Offset:    -1,
+	}
+}
+
+// stackAllocate creates a stack memory ABIParamAssignment object for
+// a param or result with the specified type, as a final step (this
+// assumes that all of the safety/suitability analysis is complete).
+func (state *assignState) stackAllocate(t *types.Type) ABIParamAssignment {
+	return ABIParamAssignment{
+		Type:   t,
+		Offset: int32(state.stackSlot(t)),
+	}
+}
+
+// intUsed returns the number of integer registers consumed
+// at a given point within an assignment stage.
+func (state *assignState) intUsed() int {
+	return state.rUsed.intRegs + state.pUsed.intRegs
+}
+
+// floatUsed returns the number of floating point registers consumed at
+// a given point within an assignment stage.
+func (state *assignState) floatUsed() int {
+	return state.rUsed.floatRegs + state.pUsed.floatRegs
+}
+
+// regassignIntegral examines a param/result of integral type 't' to
+// determines whether it can be register-assigned. Returns TRUE if we
+// can register allocate, FALSE otherwise (and updates state
+// accordingly).
+func (state *assignState) regassignIntegral(t *types.Type) bool {
+	regsNeeded := int(Rnd(t.Width, int64(Widthptr)) / int64(Widthptr))
+
+	// Floating point and complex.
+	if t.IsFloat() || t.IsComplex() {
+		if regsNeeded+state.floatUsed() > state.rTotal.floatRegs {
+			// not enough regs
+			return false
+		}
+		state.pUsed.floatRegs += regsNeeded
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Non-floating point
+	if regsNeeded+state.intUsed() > state.rTotal.intRegs {
+		// not enough regs
+		return false
+	}
+	state.pUsed.intRegs += regsNeeded
+	return true
+}
+
+// regassignArray processes an array type (or array component within some
+// other enclosing type) to determine if it can be register assigned.
+// Returns TRUE if we can register allocate, FALSE otherwise.
+func (state *assignState) regassignArray(t *types.Type) bool {
+
+	nel := t.NumElem()
+	if nel == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	if nel > 1 {
+		// Not an array of length 1: stack assign
+		return false
+	}
+	// Visit element
+	return state.regassign(t.Elem())
+}
+
+// regassignStruct processes a struct type (or struct component within
+// some other enclosing type) to determine if it can be register
+// assigned. Returns TRUE if we can register allocate, FALSE otherwise.
+func (state *assignState) regassignStruct(t *types.Type) bool {
+	for _, field := range t.FieldSlice() {
+		if !state.regassign(field.Type) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// synthOnce ensures that we only create the synth* fake types once.
+var synthOnce sync.Once
+
+// synthSlice, synthString, and syncIface are synthesized struct types
+// meant to capture the underlying implementations of string/slice/interface.
+var synthSlice *types.Type
+var synthString *types.Type
+var synthIface *types.Type
+
+// setup performs setup for the register assignment utilities, manufacturing
+// a small set of synthesized types that we'll need along the way.
+func setup() {
+	synthOnce.Do(func() {
+		fname := types.BuiltinPkg.Lookup
+		nxp := src.NoXPos
+		unsp := types.Types[types.TUNSAFEPTR]
+		ui := types.Types[types.TUINTPTR]
+		synthSlice = types.NewStruct(types.NoPkg, []*types.Field{
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("ptr"), unsp),
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("len"), ui),
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("cap"), ui),
+		})
+		synthString = types.NewStruct(types.NoPkg, []*types.Field{
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("data"), unsp),
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("len"), ui),
+		})
+		synthIface = types.NewStruct(types.NoPkg, []*types.Field{
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("f1"), unsp),
+			types.NewField(nxp, fname("f2"), unsp),
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+// regassign examines a given param type (or component within some
+// composite) to determine if it can be register assigned.  Returns
+// TRUE if we can register allocate, FALSE otherwise.
+func (state *assignState) regassign(pt *types.Type) bool {
+	typ := pt.Kind()
+	if pt.IsScalar() || pt.IsPtrShaped() {
+		return state.regassignIntegral(pt)
+	}
+	switch typ {
+	case types.TARRAY:
+		return state.regassignArray(pt)
+	case types.TSTRUCT:
+		return state.regassignStruct(pt)
+	case types.TSLICE:
+		return state.regassignStruct(synthSlice)
+	case types.TSTRING:
+		return state.regassignStruct(synthString)
+	case types.TINTER:
+		return state.regassignStruct(synthIface)
+	default:
+		panic("not expected")
+	}
+}
+
+// assignParamOrReturn processes a given receiver, param, or result
+// of type 'pt' to determine whether it can be register assigned.
+// The result of the analysis is recorded in the result
+// ABIParamResultInfo held in 'state'.
+func (state *assignState) assignParamOrReturn(pt *types.Type) ABIParamAssignment {
+	state.pUsed = RegAmounts{}
+	if pt.Width == types.BADWIDTH {
+		panic("should never happen")
+	} else if pt.Width == 0 {
+		return state.stackAllocate(pt)
+	} else if state.regassign(pt) {
+		return state.regAllocate(pt)
+	} else {
+		return state.stackAllocate(pt)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..16bd787bea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutils_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+// Copyright 2020 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package gc
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"cmd/compile/internal/base"
+	"cmd/compile/internal/types"
+	"cmd/internal/obj"
+	"cmd/internal/obj/x86"
+	"cmd/internal/src"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// AMD64 registers available:
+// - integer: RAX, RBX, RCX, RDI, RSI, R8, R9, r10, R11
+// - floating point: X0 - X14
+var configAMD64 = ABIConfig{
+	regAmounts: RegAmounts{
+		intRegs:   9,
+		floatRegs: 15,
+	},
+}
+
+func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
+	thearch.LinkArch = &x86.Linkamd64
+	thearch.REGSP = x86.REGSP
+	thearch.MAXWIDTH = 1 << 50
+	base.Ctxt = obj.Linknew(thearch.LinkArch)
+	base.Ctxt.DiagFunc = base.Errorf
+	base.Ctxt.DiagFlush = base.FlushErrors
+	base.Ctxt.Bso = bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout)
+	Widthptr = thearch.LinkArch.PtrSize
+	Widthreg = thearch.LinkArch.RegSize
+	initializeTypesPackage()
+	os.Exit(m.Run())
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsBasic1(t *testing.T) {
+
+	// func(x int32) int32
+	i32 := types.Types[types.TINT32]
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{i32}, []*types.Type{i32})
+
+	// expected results
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		intspill: 1 floatspill: 0 offsetToSpillArea: 0
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsBasic2(t *testing.T) {
+	// func(x int32, y float64) (int32, float64, float64)
+	i8 := types.Types[types.TINT8]
+	i16 := types.Types[types.TINT16]
+	i32 := types.Types[types.TINT32]
+	i64 := types.Types[types.TINT64]
+	f32 := types.Types[types.TFLOAT32]
+	f64 := types.Types[types.TFLOAT64]
+	c64 := types.Types[types.TCOMPLEX64]
+	c128 := types.Types[types.TCOMPLEX128]
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil,
+		[]*types.Type{
+			i8, i16, i32, i64,
+			f32, f32, f64, f64,
+			i8, i16, i32, i64,
+			f32, f32, f64, f64,
+			c128, c128, c128, c128, c64,
+			i8, i16, i32, i64,
+			i8, i16, i32, i64},
+		[]*types.Type{i32, f64, f64})
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 1: R{ I1 } offset: -1 typ: int16
+		IN 2: R{ I2 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		IN 3: R{ I3 } offset: -1 typ: int64
+		IN 4: R{ F0 } offset: -1 typ: float32
+		IN 5: R{ F1 } offset: -1 typ: float32
+		IN 6: R{ F2 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		IN 7: R{ F3 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		IN 8: R{ I4 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 9: R{ I5 } offset: -1 typ: int16
+		IN 10: R{ I6 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		IN 11: R{ I7 } offset: -1 typ: int64
+		IN 12: R{ F4 } offset: -1 typ: float32
+		IN 13: R{ F5 } offset: -1 typ: float32
+		IN 14: R{ F6 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		IN 15: R{ F7 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		IN 16: R{ F8 F9 } offset: -1 typ: complex128
+		IN 17: R{ F10 F11 } offset: -1 typ: complex128
+		IN 18: R{ F12 F13 } offset: -1 typ: complex128
+		IN 19: R{ } offset: 0 typ: complex128
+		IN 20: R{ F14 } offset: -1 typ: complex64
+		IN 21: R{ I8 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 22: R{ } offset: 16 typ: int16
+		IN 23: R{ } offset: 20 typ: int32
+		IN 24: R{ } offset: 24 typ: int64
+		IN 25: R{ } offset: 32 typ: int8
+		IN 26: R{ } offset: 34 typ: int16
+		IN 27: R{ } offset: 36 typ: int32
+		IN 28: R{ } offset: 40 typ: int64
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		OUT 1: R{ F0 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		OUT 2: R{ F1 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		intspill: 9 floatspill: 15 offsetToSpillArea: 48
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsArrays(t *testing.T) {
+	i32 := types.Types[types.TINT32]
+	ae := types.NewArray(i32, 0)
+	a1 := types.NewArray(i32, 1)
+	a2 := types.NewArray(i32, 2)
+	aa1 := types.NewArray(a1, 1)
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{a1, ae, aa1, a2},
+		[]*types.Type{a2, a1, ae, aa1})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: [1]int32
+		IN 1: R{ } offset: 0 typ: [0]int32
+		IN 2: R{ I1 } offset: -1 typ: [1][1]int32
+		IN 3: R{ } offset: 0 typ: [2]int32
+		OUT 0: R{ } offset: 8 typ: [2]int32
+		OUT 1: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: [1]int32
+		OUT 2: R{ } offset: 16 typ: [0]int32
+		OUT 3: R{ I1 } offset: -1 typ: [1][1]int32
+		intspill: 2 floatspill: 0 offsetToSpillArea: 16
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsStruct1(t *testing.T) {
+	i8 := types.Types[types.TINT8]
+	i16 := types.Types[types.TINT16]
+	i32 := types.Types[types.TINT32]
+	i64 := types.Types[types.TINT64]
+	s := mkstruct([]*types.Type{i8, i8, mkstruct([]*types.Type{}), i8, i16})
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{i8, s, i64},
+		[]*types.Type{s, i8, i32})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 1: R{ I1 I2 I3 I4 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int8; int8; struct {}; int8; int16 }
+		IN 2: R{ I5 } offset: -1 typ: int64
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 I1 I2 I3 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int8; int8; struct {}; int8; int16 }
+		OUT 1: R{ I4 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		OUT 2: R{ I5 } offset: -1 typ: int32
+		intspill: 6 floatspill: 0 offsetToSpillArea: 0
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsStruct2(t *testing.T) {
+	f64 := types.Types[types.TFLOAT64]
+	i64 := types.Types[types.TINT64]
+	s := mkstruct([]*types.Type{i64, mkstruct([]*types.Type{})})
+	fs := mkstruct([]*types.Type{f64, s, mkstruct([]*types.Type{})})
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{s, s, fs},
+		[]*types.Type{fs, fs})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int64; struct {} }
+		IN 1: R{ I1 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int64; struct {} }
+		IN 2: R{ I2 F0 } offset: -1 typ: struct { float64; struct { int64; struct {} }; struct {} }
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 F0 } offset: -1 typ: struct { float64; struct { int64; struct {} }; struct {} }
+		OUT 1: R{ I1 F1 } offset: -1 typ: struct { float64; struct { int64; struct {} }; struct {} }
+		intspill: 3 floatspill: 1 offsetToSpillArea: 0
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsSliceString(t *testing.T) {
+	i32 := types.Types[types.TINT32]
+	sli32 := types.NewSlice(i32)
+	str := types.New(types.TSTRING)
+	i8 := types.Types[types.TINT8]
+	i64 := types.Types[types.TINT64]
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{sli32, i8, sli32, i8, str, i8, i64, sli32},
+		[]*types.Type{str, i64, str, sli32})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 I1 I2 } offset: -1 typ: []int32
+		IN 1: R{ I3 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 2: R{ I4 I5 I6 } offset: -1 typ: []int32
+		IN 3: R{ I7 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 4: R{ } offset: 0 typ: string
+		IN 5: R{ I8 } offset: -1 typ: int8
+		IN 6: R{ } offset: 16 typ: int64
+		IN 7: R{ } offset: 24 typ: []int32
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 I1 } offset: -1 typ: string
+		OUT 1: R{ I2 } offset: -1 typ: int64
+		OUT 2: R{ I3 I4 } offset: -1 typ: string
+		OUT 3: R{ I5 I6 I7 } offset: -1 typ: []int32
+		intspill: 9 floatspill: 0 offsetToSpillArea: 48
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsMethod(t *testing.T) {
+	i16 := types.Types[types.TINT16]
+	i64 := types.Types[types.TINT64]
+	f64 := types.Types[types.TFLOAT64]
+
+	s1 := mkstruct([]*types.Type{i16, i16, i16})
+	ps1 := types.NewPtr(s1)
+	a7 := types.NewArray(ps1, 7)
+	ft := mkFuncType(s1, []*types.Type{ps1, a7, f64, i16, i16, i16},
+		[]*types.Type{a7, f64, i64})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 I1 I2 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int16; int16; int16 }
+		IN 1: R{ I3 } offset: -1 typ: *struct { int16; int16; int16 }
+		IN 2: R{ } offset: 0 typ: [7]*struct { int16; int16; int16 }
+		IN 3: R{ F0 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		IN 4: R{ I4 } offset: -1 typ: int16
+		IN 5: R{ I5 } offset: -1 typ: int16
+		IN 6: R{ I6 } offset: -1 typ: int16
+		OUT 0: R{ } offset: 56 typ: [7]*struct { int16; int16; int16 }
+		OUT 1: R{ F0 } offset: -1 typ: float64
+		OUT 2: R{ I0 } offset: -1 typ: int64
+		intspill: 7 floatspill: 1 offsetToSpillArea: 112
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
+
+func TestABIUtilsInterfaces(t *testing.T) {
+	ei := types.Types[types.TINTER] // interface{}
+	pei := types.NewPtr(ei)         // *interface{}
+	fldt := mkFuncType(types.FakeRecvType(), []*types.Type{},
+		[]*types.Type{types.UntypedString})
+	field := types.NewField(src.NoXPos, nil, fldt)
+	// interface{ ...() string }
+	nei := types.NewInterface(types.LocalPkg, []*types.Field{field})
+
+	i16 := types.Types[types.TINT16]
+	tb := types.Types[types.TBOOL]
+	s1 := mkstruct([]*types.Type{i16, i16, tb})
+
+	ft := mkFuncType(nil, []*types.Type{s1, ei, ei, nei, pei, nei, i16},
+		[]*types.Type{ei, nei, pei})
+
+	exp := makeExpectedDump(`
+		IN 0: R{ I0 I1 I2 } offset: -1 typ: struct { int16; int16; bool }
+		IN 1: R{ I3 I4 } offset: -1 typ: interface {}
+		IN 2: R{ I5 I6 } offset: -1 typ: interface {}
+		IN 3: R{ I7 I8 } offset: -1 typ: interface { () untyped string }
+		IN 4: R{ } offset: 0 typ: *interface {}
+		IN 5: R{ } offset: 8 typ: interface { () untyped string }
+		IN 6: R{ } offset: 24 typ: int16
+		OUT 0: R{ I0 I1 } offset: -1 typ: interface {}
+		OUT 1: R{ I2 I3 } offset: -1 typ: interface { () untyped string }
+		OUT 2: R{ I4 } offset: -1 typ: *interface {}
+		intspill: 9 floatspill: 0 offsetToSpillArea: 32
+`)
+
+	abitest(t, ft, exp)
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutilsaux_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutilsaux_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d90d1d45a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/abiutilsaux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// Copyright 2020 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package gc
+
+// This file contains utility routines and harness infrastructure used
+// by the ABI tests in "abiutils_test.go".
+
+import (
+	"cmd/compile/internal/ir"
+	"cmd/compile/internal/types"
+	"cmd/internal/src"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"text/scanner"
+)
+
+func mkParamResultField(t *types.Type, s *types.Sym, which ir.Class) *types.Field {
+	field := types.NewField(src.NoXPos, s, t)
+	n := NewName(s)
+	n.SetClass(which)
+	field.Nname = n
+	n.SetType(t)
+	return field
+}
+
+// mkstruct is a helper routine to create a struct type with fields
+// of the types specified in 'fieldtypes'.
+func mkstruct(fieldtypes []*types.Type) *types.Type {
+	fields := make([]*types.Field, len(fieldtypes))
+	for k, t := range fieldtypes {
+		if t == nil {
+			panic("bad -- field has no type")
+		}
+		f := types.NewField(src.NoXPos, nil, t)
+		fields[k] = f
+	}
+	s := types.NewStruct(types.LocalPkg, fields)
+	return s
+}
+
+func mkFuncType(rcvr *types.Type, ins []*types.Type, outs []*types.Type) *types.Type {
+	q := lookup("?")
+	inf := []*types.Field{}
+	for _, it := range ins {
+		inf = append(inf, mkParamResultField(it, q, ir.PPARAM))
+	}
+	outf := []*types.Field{}
+	for _, ot := range outs {
+		outf = append(outf, mkParamResultField(ot, q, ir.PPARAMOUT))
+	}
+	var rf *types.Field
+	if rcvr != nil {
+		rf = mkParamResultField(rcvr, q, ir.PPARAM)
+	}
+	return types.NewSignature(types.LocalPkg, rf, inf, outf)
+}
+
+type expectedDump struct {
+	dump string
+	file string
+	line int
+}
+
+func tokenize(src string) []string {
+	var s scanner.Scanner
+	s.Init(strings.NewReader(src))
+	res := []string{}
+	for tok := s.Scan(); tok != scanner.EOF; tok = s.Scan() {
+		res = append(res, s.TokenText())
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+func verifyParamResultOffset(t *testing.T, f *types.Field, r ABIParamAssignment, which string, idx int) int {
+	n := ir.AsNode(f.Nname)
+	if n == nil {
+		panic("not expected")
+	}
+	if n.Offset() != int64(r.Offset) {
+		t.Errorf("%s %d: got offset %d wanted %d t=%v",
+			which, idx, r.Offset, n.Offset(), f.Type)
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func makeExpectedDump(e string) expectedDump {
+	return expectedDump{dump: e}
+}
+
+func difftokens(atoks []string, etoks []string) string {
+	if len(atoks) != len(etoks) {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("expected %d tokens got %d",
+			len(etoks), len(atoks))
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < len(etoks); i++ {
+		if etoks[i] == atoks[i] {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		return fmt.Sprintf("diff at token %d: expected %q got %q",
+			i, etoks[i], atoks[i])
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func abitest(t *testing.T, ft *types.Type, exp expectedDump) {
+
+	dowidth(ft)
+
+	// Analyze with full set of registers.
+	regRes := ABIAnalyze(ft, configAMD64)
+	regResString := strings.TrimSpace(regRes.String())
+
+	// Check results.
+	reason := difftokens(tokenize(regResString), tokenize(exp.dump))
+	if reason != "" {
+		t.Errorf("\nexpected:\n%s\ngot:\n%s\nreason: %s",
+			strings.TrimSpace(exp.dump), regResString, reason)
+	}
+
+	// Analyze again with empty register set.
+	empty := ABIConfig{}
+	emptyRes := ABIAnalyze(ft, empty)
+	emptyResString := emptyRes.String()
+
+	// Walk the results and make sure the offsets assigned match
+	// up with those assiged by dowidth. This checks to make sure that
+	// when we have no available registers the ABI assignment degenerates
+	// back to the original ABI0.
+
+	// receiver
+	failed := 0
+	rfsl := ft.Recvs().Fields().Slice()
+	poff := 0
+	if len(rfsl) != 0 {
+		failed |= verifyParamResultOffset(t, rfsl[0], emptyRes.inparams[0], "receiver", 0)
+		poff = 1
+	}
+	// params
+	pfsl := ft.Params().Fields().Slice()
+	for k, f := range pfsl {
+		verifyParamResultOffset(t, f, emptyRes.inparams[k+poff], "param", k)
+	}
+	// results
+	ofsl := ft.Results().Fields().Slice()
+	for k, f := range ofsl {
+		failed |= verifyParamResultOffset(t, f, emptyRes.outparams[k], "result", k)
+	}
+
+	if failed != 0 {
+		t.Logf("emptyres:\n%s\n", emptyResString)
+	}
+}