diff --git a/eval/eval/evaluator_core.cc b/eval/eval/evaluator_core.cc
index 0aa6000a4..458a56d0b 100644
--- a/eval/eval/evaluator_core.cc
+++ b/eval/eval/evaluator_core.cc
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <utility>
 
+#include "absl/base/attributes.h"
 #include "absl/base/nullability.h"
 #include "absl/base/optimization.h"
 #include "absl/log/absl_check.h"
@@ -39,6 +40,23 @@ void FlatExpressionEvaluatorState::Reset() {
 }
 
 const ExpressionStep* ExecutionFrame::Next() {
+  if (ABSL_PREDICT_TRUE(pc_ < execution_path_.size())) {
+    const ExpressionStep* step = &execution_path_[pc_++];
+    ABSL_ASSUME(step != nullptr);
+    return step;
+  }
+  // Normal completion of the top-level program. Handled inline since every
+  // evaluation ends here.
+  if (ABSL_PREDICT_TRUE(pc_ == execution_path_.size() && call_stack_.empty())) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return ReturnFromSubexpression();
+}
+
+// Kept out of line so that `Next()` stays small enough to inline into the
+// `Evaluate` loop.
+ABSL_ATTRIBUTE_NOINLINE const ExpressionStep*
+ExecutionFrame::ReturnFromSubexpression() {
   while (true) {
     const size_t end_pos = execution_path_.size();
 
diff --git a/eval/eval/evaluator_core.h b/eval/eval/evaluator_core.h
index f25be8448..fab393b8e 100644
--- a/eval/eval/evaluator_core.h
+++ b/eval/eval/evaluator_core.h
@@ -495,6 +495,12 @@ class ExecutionFrame : public ExecutionFrameBase {
     size_t expected_stack_size;
   };
 
+  // Called by `Next()` when `pc_` reaches the end of the current execution
+  // path. If a subexpression is being evaluated, returns to the caller (storing
+  // the result in the caller's comprehension slot) and returns the caller's
+  // next step. Returns nullptr once the top-level expression is complete.
+  const ExpressionStep* ReturnFromSubexpression();
+
   size_t pc_;  // pc_ - Program Counter. Current position on execution path.
   ExecutionPathView execution_path_;
   EvaluatorStack* absl_nonnull const value_stack_;