diff --git a/src/build/mod.rs b/src/build/mod.rs
index 19e6a22..9ff2c61 100644
--- a/src/build/mod.rs
+++ b/src/build/mod.rs
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ pub struct FileBuilder<'a> {
     import_path: &'a Vec<PathBuf>,
     validate_mode: bool,
     pub assert_collector: AssertCollector,
-    strict: bool,
     scope: Scope,
     import_registry: ImporterRegistry,
     // NOTE(jwall): We use interior mutability here because we need
@@ -176,7 +175,6 @@ impl<'a> FileBuilder<'a> {
                 failures: String::new(),
             },
             scope: scope,
-            strict: true,
             import_registry: ImporterRegistry::make_registry(),
             assets: cache,
             out_lock: None,
@@ -197,7 +195,6 @@ impl<'a> FileBuilder<'a> {
                 summary: String::new(),
                 failures: String::new(),
             },
-            strict: true,
             assets: self.assets.clone(),
             // This is admittedly a little wasteful but we can live with it for now.
             import_registry: ImporterRegistry::make_registry(),
@@ -252,7 +249,7 @@ impl<'a> FileBuilder<'a> {
     }
 
     pub fn set_strict(&mut self, to: bool) {
-        self.strict = to;
+        self.scope.strict = to;
     }
 
     fn eval_tuple(
diff --git a/src/build/scope.rs b/src/build/scope.rs
index fcefd92..ddd5356 100644
--- a/src/build/scope.rs
+++ b/src/build/scope.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ pub struct Scope {
     pub curr_val: Option<Rc<Val>>,
     pub build_output: ValueMap,
     pub search_curr_val: bool,
+    pub strict: bool,
 }
 
 impl Scope {
@@ -53,9 +54,15 @@ impl Scope {
             curr_val: None,
             build_output: HashMap::new(),
             search_curr_val: false,
+            strict: false,
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn use_strict(mut self) -> Self {
+        self.strict = true;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn use_curr_val(mut self) -> Self {
         self.search_curr_val = true;
         self
@@ -71,6 +78,7 @@ impl Scope {
             curr_val: None,
             build_output: self.build_output.clone(),
             search_curr_val: false,
+            strict: self.strict,
         }
     }
 
@@ -82,6 +90,7 @@ impl Scope {
             curr_val: None,
             build_output: HashMap::new(),
             search_curr_val: false,
+            strict: self.strict,
         }
     }
 
@@ -140,6 +149,9 @@ impl Scope {
                             return Some(Rc::new(Val::Str(val.clone())));
                         }
                     }
+                    if !self.strict {
+                        return Some(Rc::new(Val::Empty));
+                    }
                 }
                 Val::Tuple(ref fs) => match Self::lookup_in_tuple(&sym.pos, &sym.val, fs) {
                     Ok(v) => return Some(v),