diff --git a/.editorconfig b/.editorconfig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7f1484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.editorconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# https://EditorConfig.org
+
+root = true
+
+[*]
+charset = utf-8
+end_of_line = unset
+indent_size = 2
+indent_style = space
+insert_final_newline = true
+trim_trailing_whitespace = true
+max_line_width = 64
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index cdf5185..d9c36f5 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -5,3 +5,12 @@ default:
 
 unit_test:
   @nodemon --exec 'echo -en "\n\n\n\n------------- BUSTED -------------\n"; busted spec' -e 'lua'
+
+test TAG:
+  @busted spec --tags {{TAG}}
+
+tests:
+  @busted spec
+
+lint FILE='':
+  @stylua --column-width 65 {{FILE}}
diff --git a/metalua/compiler/ast_to_src.lua b/metalua/compiler/ast_to_src.lua
index 75f6509..26853d0 100644
--- a/metalua/compiler/ast_to_src.lua
+++ b/metalua/compiler/ast_to_src.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ function M.new(seen_comments, w)
     -- Number of linebreaks
     _lines = 0,
     -- wrap length
-    wrap = w or 80
+    wrap = w or 80,
+    -- Last source line number emitted (used to detect blank-line gaps)
+    _last_nonempty_src_line = 0
   }
   return setmetatable(self, M)
 end
@@ -190,6 +192,32 @@ function M:nltempindent(extra)
   self.current_indent = depth
 end
 
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+--- Reset last non-empty source line to the current position
+--- @param pos position|{line: integer}|{l: integer}
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+function M:emptyline_gap_reset(pos)
+  local line = pos and (pos.line or pos.l)
+  -- never go backwards
+  if line and line > self._last_nonempty_src_line then
+    self._last_nonempty_src_line = line
+  end
+end
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+--- Detect the length of emptyline sequence in the source,
+--- that precedes the current position
+--- @param pos position|{line: integer}|{l: integer}
+--- @return integer
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+function M:emptyline_gap_before(pos)
+  local line = pos and (pos.line or pos.l)
+  if line and line > self._last_nonempty_src_line then
+    return line - self._last_nonempty_src_line
+  end
+  return 0
+end
+
 ----------------------------------------------------------------
 --- Keywords, which are illegal as identifiers.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -429,6 +457,13 @@ function M:node(node)
       if co.position == pos then
         --- comes _after_ a previous expression
         if co.position == 'last' then self:nl() end
+        --- if there was a 'gap' preceding the comment,
+        --- we preserve it by emitting exactly one empty line
+        if co.position == 'first' then
+          if self:emptyline_gap_before(co.first) >= 2 then
+            self:nl()
+          end
+        end
         --- preserve existing newlines
         local lines = string.lines(co.text)
         if co.multiline then
@@ -493,11 +528,18 @@ function M:node(node)
         end
         --- comes _before_ the next expression
         if co.position == 'first' then self:nl() end
+        --- advance non-empty source line tracker to this comment's last line
+        self:emptyline_gap_reset(co.last)
       end
     end
   end
 
   show_comments('first')
+  -- advance non-empty source line tracker, 
+  -- used for detecting emptyline gaps in the source
+  if node.lineinfo and node.lineinfo.first then
+    self:emptyline_gap_reset(node.lineinfo.first)
+  end
   if not node.tag then --- tagless block.
     self:list(node, self.nl)
   else
@@ -515,6 +557,9 @@ function M:node(node)
       self:acc(" }")
     end
   end
+  if node.lineinfo and node.lineinfo.last then
+    self:emptyline_gap_reset(node.lineinfo.last)
+  end
   show_comments('last')
 end
 
diff --git a/spec/ast_inputs.lua b/spec/ast_inputs.lua
index 2954872..cf79b4a 100644
--- a/spec/ast_inputs.lua
+++ b/spec/ast_inputs.lua
@@ -495,6 +495,179 @@ local comments = {
     '  ',
     'end',
   }),
+
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '-- emptyline before comment must be preserved',
+    'function foo(bar)',
+    '  return ("no comment duplication should happen")',
+    'end'
+  }),
+
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '-- multiple emptylines before comment must be squashed',
+  }, {
+    '',
+    '-- multiple emptylines before comment must be squashed',
+  })
+}
+
+local emptylines = {
+
+  -- standalone comment
+
+  prep({'--- standalone comment does not enforce emptylines'}),
+  prep({'',
+       '--- standalone comment preserves emptyline before it'
+  }),
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    '--- standalone comment keeps just one emptyline before it'
+  },{
+    '',
+    '--- standalone comment keeps just one emptyline before it'
+  }),
+
+  -- standalone expression
+
+  prep({
+    'print("standalone expression does not enforce emptylines")'
+  }),
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    'print("standalone expression eliminates emptylines before it")'
+  }, {
+    'print("standalone expression eliminates emptylines before it")'
+  }),
+
+  --- expression+comment
+
+  prep({
+    '-- comment before expression does not enforce emptylines',
+    'print("expectation: no emptylines are injected")',
+  }),
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    '-- comment before expression allows one emptyline before it',
+    'print("expectation: exactly one emptyline is preserved")',
+  }, {
+    '',
+    '-- comment before expression allows one emptyline before it',
+    'print("expectation: exactly one emptyline is preserved")',
+  }),
+
+  -- expressions (multiple)
+
+  prep({
+    'print("rule: no gap between adjacent statemets is enforced")',
+    'print("expecting: no emptyline should be injected")'
+  }),
+  prep({
+    'print("rule: gap between adjacent statements is eliminated")',
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    'print("expecting: no emptylines preserved")'
+  }, {
+    'print("rule: gap between adjacent statements is eliminated")',
+    'print("expecting: no emptylines preserved")'
+  }),
+
+  -- expressions (multiple)  + comment
+
+  prep({
+    'print("rule: comment between statements does not preserve gap")',
+    '',
+    '-- comment between statements does not preserve gap',
+    'print("expecting: emptyline is not preserved")'
+  }, {
+    'print("rule: comment between statements does not preserve gap")',
+    '-- comment between statements does not preserve gap',
+    'print("expecting: emptyline is not preserved")'
+  }),
+
+  -- standalone block
+
+  prep({
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("standalone block does not emit emptylines")',
+    'end'
+  }),
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("standalone block erases emptylines before it")',
+    'end'
+  }, {
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("standalone block erases emptylines before it")',
+    'end'
+  }),
+
+  -- standalone block + comment
+
+  prep({
+    '-- comment before block',
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("comment before block does not emit emptylines")',
+    'end'
+  }),
+  prep({
+    '',
+    '',
+    '',
+    '-- comment before block',
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("comment before block keeps 1 emptyline before it")',
+    'end'
+  }, {
+    '',
+    '-- comment before block',
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("comment before block keeps 1 emptyline before it")',
+    'end'
+  }),
+
+  -- multiple blocks + comment in between
+
+  prep({
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("no gaps between blocks are enforced")',
+    'end',
+    '-- comment in between',
+    'function expectation()',
+    '  return ("no emptylines are injected")',
+    'end',
+  }),
+  prep({
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("no gaps between blocks are preserved")',
+    'end',
+    '',
+    '-- comment in between',
+    '',
+    'function expectation()',
+    '  return ("no emptylines are kept")',
+    'end',
+  }, {
+    'function rule()',
+    '  return ("no gaps between blocks are preserved")',
+    'end',
+    '-- comment in between',
+    'function expectation()',
+    '  return ("no emptylines are kept")',
+    'end',
+  })
 }
 
 local wrapping = {
@@ -1199,12 +1372,14 @@ local todo = {
   prep('t = { c = 2 }'),
   prep('a = 1'),
 }
+
 return {
   { 'basics',    basics },
   { 'operators', operators },
   { 'functions', functions },
   { 'self',      self },
   { 'comments',  comments },
+  { 'emptylines', emptylines },
   { 'wrap',      wrapping },
   { 'canon',     canon },
   { 'full',      full },
diff --git a/spec/ast_to_src_spec.lua b/spec/ast_to_src_spec.lua
index ac629c8..df1f5a6 100644
--- a/spec/ast_to_src_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/ast_to_src_spec.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+local fmt = string.format
+
 local describe = require("busted").describe
 local assert = require("busted").assert
 local it = require("busted").it
@@ -5,7 +7,7 @@ local it = require("busted").it
 require("stringutils.string")
 
 local inputs = require("spec.ast_inputs")
-local mlc = require('metalua.compiler').new()
+local mlc = require("metalua.compiler").new()
 
 local w = 64
 
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ local parse_prot = function(code)
   return pcall(mlc.src_to_ast, mlc, c)
 end
 
-describe('ast_to_src #src', function()
+describe("ast_to_src #src", function()
   local function do_code(ast, seen_comments)
     local a2s = mlc:a2s(seen_comments, w)
     local code, comments = a2s:run(ast)
@@ -33,14 +35,15 @@ describe('ast_to_src #src', function()
     return code, seen_comments
   end
 
-  describe('produces ASTs', function()
+  describe("produces ASTs", function()
     for _, test_t in pairs(inputs) do
       local tag = test_t[1]
       local tests = test_t[2]
-      describe('for ' .. tag, function()
+      describe("for #" .. tag, function()
         for i, tc in ipairs(tests) do
           local input = tc[1]
           local output = tc[2]
+          local testtag = fmt("%s_%s", tag, i)
 
           local ok, r = parse_prot(input)
           local result = {}
@@ -61,15 +64,15 @@ describe('ast_to_src #src', function()
             end
 
             --- remove trailing newline
-            if result[#result] == '' then
+            if result[#result] == "" then
               table.remove(result)
             end
-            it('matches ' .. i, function()
+            it("matching rule #" .. testtag, function()
               assert.same(output, result)
               assert.is_true(parse_prot(output))
             end)
           else
-            print('syntax error in input #' .. i)
+            print("syntax error in #" .. testtag)
             print(r)
           end
         end