diff --git a/conv.c b/conv.c
index c3ebb03..e7c0bfc 100644
--- a/conv.c
+++ b/conv.c
@@ -179,11 +179,15 @@ static void enclose(Format *f, Binding *binding, const char *sep) {
 	if (binding != NULL) {
 		Binding *next = binding->next;
 		enclose(f, next, ";");
+#if !ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
+		fmtprint(f, "%S%s", binding->name, sep);
+#else
 		fmtprint(f, "%S=%#L%s", binding->name, binding->defn, " ", sep);
+#endif
 	}
 }
 
-#if 0
+#if ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
 typedef struct Chain Chain;
 struct Chain {
 	Closure *closure;
@@ -199,7 +203,7 @@ static Boolean Cconv(Format *f) {
 	Binding *binding = closure->binding;
 	Boolean altform = (f->flags & FMT_altform) != 0;
 
-#if 0
+#if ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
 	int i;
 	Chain me, *cp;
 	assert(tree->kind == nThunk || tree->kind == nLambda || tree->kind == nPrim);
@@ -226,7 +230,7 @@ static Boolean Cconv(Format *f) {
 		fmtprint(f, "%T", tree);
 	}
 
-#if 0
+#if ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
 	chain = chain->next;	/* TODO: exception unwinding? */
 #endif
 	return FALSE;
diff --git a/esconfig.h b/esconfig.h
index 9b4c054..4788523 100644
--- a/esconfig.h
+++ b/esconfig.h
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@
  *	line definitions.  (That is, remember to do the #ifndef dance.)
  *
  *
+ *	ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
+ *		if on, produce closure strings without the values bound in a closure:
+ *			%closure(x;y;x)@ * {...}
+ *		else:
+ *			%closure(x=1;y=4;x=9)@ * {...}
+ *		this is particularly useful when dealing with "nested bindings".
+ *
  *	ASSERTIONS
  *		if this is on, asserts will be checked, raising errors on
  *		actual assertion failure.
@@ -276,6 +283,10 @@
  * default defaults -- don't change this section
  */
 
+#ifndef	ABRIDGE_CLOSURES
+#define	ABRIDGE_CLOSURES	1
+#endif
+
 #ifndef	ASSERTIONS
 #define	ASSERTIONS		1
 #endif