diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index d326756079..564b8dba6e 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ F: cpus.c
 F: exec.c
 F: accel/tcg/
 F: accel/stubs/tcg-stub.c
+F: scripts/decodetree.py
+F: docs/devel/decodetree.rst
 F: include/exec/cpu*.h
 F: include/exec/exec-all.h
 F: include/exec/helper*.h
diff --git a/docs/devel/decodetree.rst b/docs/devel/decodetree.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..44ac621ea8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/devel/decodetree.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+========================
+Decodetree Specification
+========================
+
+A *decodetree* is built from instruction *patterns*.  A pattern may
+represent a single architectural instruction or a group of same, depending
+on what is convenient for further processing.
+
+Each pattern has both *fixedbits* and *fixedmask*, the combination of which
+describes the condition under which the pattern is matched::
+
+  (insn & fixedmask) == fixedbits
+
+Each pattern may have *fields*, which are extracted from the insn and
+passed along to the translator.  Examples of such are registers,
+immediates, and sub-opcodes.
+
+In support of patterns, one may declare *fields*, *argument sets*, and
+*formats*, each of which may be re-used to simplify further definitions.
+
+Fields
+======
+
+Syntax::
+
+  field_def     := '%' identifier ( unnamed_field )+ ( !function=identifier )?
+  unnamed_field := number ':' ( 's' ) number
+
+For *unnamed_field*, the first number is the least-significant bit position
+of the field and the second number is the length of the field.  If the 's' is
+present, the field is considered signed.  If multiple ``unnamed_fields`` are
+present, they are concatenated.  In this way one can define disjoint fields.
+
+If ``!function`` is specified, the concatenated result is passed through the
+named function, taking and returning an integral value.
+
+FIXME: the fields of the structure into which this result will be stored
+is restricted to ``int``.  Which means that we cannot expand 64-bit items.
+
+Field examples:
+
++---------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+| Input                     | Generated code                              |
++===========================+=============================================+
+| %disp   0:s16             | sextract(i, 0, 16)                          |
++---------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+| %imm9   16:6 10:3         | extract(i, 16, 6) << 3 | extract(i, 10, 3)  |
++---------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+| %disp12 0:s1 1:1 2:10     | sextract(i, 0, 1) << 11 |                   |
+|                           |    extract(i, 1, 1) << 10 |                 |
+|                           |    extract(i, 2, 10)                        |
++---------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+| %shimm8 5:s8 13:1         | expand_shimm8(sextract(i, 5, 8) << 1 |      |
+|   !function=expand_shimm8 |               extract(i, 13, 1))            |
++---------------------------+---------------------------------------------+
+
+Argument Sets
+=============
+
+Syntax::
+
+  args_def    := '&' identifier ( args_elt )+ ( !extern )?
+  args_elt    := identifier
+
+Each *args_elt* defines an argument within the argument set.
+Each argument set will be rendered as a C structure "arg_$name"
+with each of the fields being one of the member arguments.
+
+If ``!extern`` is specified, the backing structure is assumed
+to have been already declared, typically via a second decoder.
+
+Argument sets are useful when one wants to define helper functions
+for the translator functions that can perform operations on a common
+set of arguments.  This can ensure, for instance, that the ``AND``
+pattern and the ``OR`` pattern put their operands into the same named
+structure, so that a common ``gen_logic_insn`` may be able to handle
+the operations common between the two.
+
+Argument set examples::
+
+  &reg3       ra rb rc
+  &loadstore  reg base offset
+
+
+Formats
+=======
+
+Syntax::
+
+  fmt_def      := '@' identifier ( fmt_elt )+
+  fmt_elt      := fixedbit_elt | field_elt | field_ref | args_ref
+  fixedbit_elt := [01.-]+
+  field_elt    := identifier ':' 's'? number
+  field_ref    := '%' identifier | identifier '=' '%' identifier
+  args_ref     := '&' identifier
+
+Defining a format is a handy way to avoid replicating groups of fields
+across many instruction patterns.
+
+A *fixedbit_elt* describes a contiguous sequence of bits that must
+be 1, 0, or don't care.  The difference between '.' and '-'
+is that '.' means that the bit will be covered with a field or a
+final 0 or 1 from the pattern, and '-' means that the bit is really
+ignored by the cpu and will not be specified.
+
+A *field_elt* describes a simple field only given a width; the position of
+the field is implied by its position with respect to other *fixedbit_elt*
+and *field_elt*.
+
+If any *fixedbit_elt* or *field_elt* appear, then all bits must be defined.
+Padding with a *fixedbit_elt* of all '.' is an easy way to accomplish that.
+
+A *field_ref* incorporates a field by reference.  This is the only way to
+add a complex field to a format.  A field may be renamed in the process
+via assignment to another identifier.  This is intended to allow the
+same argument set be used with disjoint named fields.
+
+A single *args_ref* may specify an argument set to use for the format.
+The set of fields in the format must be a subset of the arguments in
+the argument set.  If an argument set is not specified, one will be
+inferred from the set of fields.
+
+It is recommended, but not required, that all *field_ref* and *args_ref*
+appear at the end of the line, not interleaving with *fixedbit_elf* or
+*field_elt*.
+
+Format examples::
+
+  @opr    ...... ra:5 rb:5 ... 0 ....... rc:5
+  @opi    ...... ra:5 lit:8    1 ....... rc:5
+
+Patterns
+========
+
+Syntax::
+
+  pat_def      := identifier ( pat_elt )+
+  pat_elt      := fixedbit_elt | field_elt | field_ref | args_ref | fmt_ref | const_elt
+  fmt_ref      := '@' identifier
+  const_elt    := identifier '=' number
+
+The *fixedbit_elt* and *field_elt* specifiers are unchanged from formats.
+A pattern that does not specify a named format will have one inferred
+from a referenced argument set (if present) and the set of fields.
+
+A *const_elt* allows a argument to be set to a constant value.  This may
+come in handy when fields overlap between patterns and one has to
+include the values in the *fixedbit_elt* instead.
+
+The decoder will call a translator function for each pattern matched.
+
+Pattern examples::
+
+  addl_r   010000 ..... ..... .... 0000000 ..... @opr
+  addl_i   010000 ..... ..... .... 0000000 ..... @opi
+
+which will, in part, invoke::
+
+  trans_addl_r(ctx, &arg_opr, insn)
+
+and::
+
+  trans_addl_i(ctx, &arg_opi, insn)
+
+Pattern Groups
+==============
+
+Syntax::
+
+  group    := '{' ( pat_def | group )+ '}'
+
+A *group* begins with a lone open-brace, with all subsequent lines
+indented two spaces, and ending with a lone close-brace.  Groups
+may be nested, increasing the required indentation of the lines
+within the nested group to two spaces per nesting level.
+
+Unlike ungrouped patterns, grouped patterns are allowed to overlap.
+Conflicts are resolved by selecting the patterns in order.  If all
+of the fixedbits for a pattern match, its translate function will
+be called.  If the translate function returns false, then subsequent
+patterns within the group will be matched.
+
+The following example from PA-RISC shows specialization of the *or*
+instruction::
+
+  {
+    {
+      nop   000010 ----- ----- 0000 001001 0 00000
+      copy  000010 00000 r1:5  0000 001001 0 rt:5
+    }
+    or      000010 rt2:5 r1:5  cf:4 001001 0 rt:5
+  }
+
+When the *cf* field is zero, the instruction has no side effects,
+and may be specialized.  When the *rt* field is zero, the output
+is discarded and so the instruction has no effect.  When the *rt2*
+field is zero, the operation is ``reg[rt] | 0`` and so encodes
+the canonical register copy operation.
+
+The output from the generator might look like::
+
+  switch (insn & 0xfc000fe0) {
+  case 0x08000240:
+    /* 000010.. ........ ....0010 010..... */
+    if ((insn & 0x0000f000) == 0x00000000) {
+        /* 000010.. ........ 00000010 010..... */
+        if ((insn & 0x0000001f) == 0x00000000) {
+            /* 000010.. ........ 00000010 01000000 */
+            extract_decode_Fmt_0(&u.f_decode0, insn);
+            if (trans_nop(ctx, &u.f_decode0)) return true;
+        }
+        if ((insn & 0x03e00000) == 0x00000000) {
+            /* 00001000 000..... 00000010 010..... */
+            extract_decode_Fmt_1(&u.f_decode1, insn);
+            if (trans_copy(ctx, &u.f_decode1)) return true;
+        }
+    }
+    extract_decode_Fmt_2(&u.f_decode2, insn);
+    if (trans_or(ctx, &u.f_decode2)) return true;
+    return false;
+  }
diff --git a/docs/devel/index.rst b/docs/devel/index.rst
index 6b11e49caa..ebbab636ce 100644
--- a/docs/devel/index.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/index.rst
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ Contents:
    migration
    stable-process
    testing
-
+   decodetree
diff --git a/scripts/decodetree.py b/scripts/decodetree.py
index e342d278b8..aa790b596a 100755
--- a/scripts/decodetree.py
+++ b/scripts/decodetree.py
@@ -17,139 +17,7 @@
 
 #
 # Generate a decoding tree from a specification file.
-#
-# The tree is built from instruction "patterns".  A pattern may represent
-# a single architectural instruction or a group of same, depending on what
-# is convenient for further processing.
-#
-# Each pattern has "fixedbits" & "fixedmask", the combination of which
-# describes the condition under which the pattern is matched:
-#
-#   (insn & fixedmask) == fixedbits
-#
-# Each pattern may have "fields", which are extracted from the insn and
-# passed along to the translator.  Examples of such are registers,
-# immediates, and sub-opcodes.
-#
-# In support of patterns, one may declare fields, argument sets, and
-# formats, each of which may be re-used to simplify further definitions.
-#
-# *** Field syntax:
-#
-# field_def     := '%' identifier ( unnamed_field )+ ( !function=identifier )?
-# unnamed_field := number ':' ( 's' ) number
-#
-# For unnamed_field, the first number is the least-significant bit position of
-# the field and the second number is the length of the field.  If the 's' is
-# present, the field is considered signed.  If multiple unnamed_fields are
-# present, they are concatenated.  In this way one can define disjoint fields.
-#
-# If !function is specified, the concatenated result is passed through the
-# named function, taking and returning an integral value.
-#
-# FIXME: the fields of the structure into which this result will be stored
-# is restricted to "int".  Which means that we cannot expand 64-bit items.
-#
-# Field examples:
-#
-#   %disp   0:s16          -- sextract(i, 0, 16)
-#   %imm9   16:6 10:3      -- extract(i, 16, 6) << 3 | extract(i, 10, 3)
-#   %disp12 0:s1 1:1 2:10  -- sextract(i, 0, 1) << 11
-#                             | extract(i, 1, 1) << 10
-#                             | extract(i, 2, 10)
-#   %shimm8 5:s8 13:1 !function=expand_shimm8
-#                          -- expand_shimm8(sextract(i, 5, 8) << 1
-#                                           | extract(i, 13, 1))
-#
-# *** Argument set syntax:
-#
-# args_def    := '&' identifier ( args_elt )+ ( !extern )?
-# args_elt    := identifier
-#
-# Each args_elt defines an argument within the argument set.
-# Each argument set will be rendered as a C structure "arg_$name"
-# with each of the fields being one of the member arguments.
-#
-# If !extern is specified, the backing structure is assumed to
-# have been already declared, typically via a second decoder.
-#
-# Argument set examples:
-#
-#   &reg3       ra rb rc
-#   &loadstore  reg base offset
-#
-# *** Format syntax:
-#
-# fmt_def      := '@' identifier ( fmt_elt )+
-# fmt_elt      := fixedbit_elt | field_elt | field_ref | args_ref
-# fixedbit_elt := [01.-]+
-# field_elt    := identifier ':' 's'? number
-# field_ref    := '%' identifier | identifier '=' '%' identifier
-# args_ref     := '&' identifier
-#
-# Defining a format is a handy way to avoid replicating groups of fields
-# across many instruction patterns.
-#
-# A fixedbit_elt describes a contiguous sequence of bits that must
-# be 1, 0, [.-] for don't care.  The difference between '.' and '-'
-# is that '.' means that the bit will be covered with a field or a
-# final [01] from the pattern, and '-' means that the bit is really
-# ignored by the cpu and will not be specified.
-#
-# A field_elt describes a simple field only given a width; the position of
-# the field is implied by its position with respect to other fixedbit_elt
-# and field_elt.
-#
-# If any fixedbit_elt or field_elt appear then all bits must be defined.
-# Padding with a fixedbit_elt of all '.' is an easy way to accomplish that.
-#
-# A field_ref incorporates a field by reference.  This is the only way to
-# add a complex field to a format.  A field may be renamed in the process
-# via assignment to another identifier.  This is intended to allow the
-# same argument set be used with disjoint named fields.
-#
-# A single args_ref may specify an argument set to use for the format.
-# The set of fields in the format must be a subset of the arguments in
-# the argument set.  If an argument set is not specified, one will be
-# inferred from the set of fields.
-#
-# It is recommended, but not required, that all field_ref and args_ref
-# appear at the end of the line, not interleaving with fixedbit_elf or
-# field_elt.
-#
-# Format examples:
-#
-#   @opr    ...... ra:5 rb:5 ... 0 ....... rc:5
-#   @opi    ...... ra:5 lit:8    1 ....... rc:5
-#
-# *** Pattern syntax:
-#
-# pat_def      := identifier ( pat_elt )+
-# pat_elt      := fixedbit_elt | field_elt | field_ref
-#               | args_ref | fmt_ref | const_elt
-# fmt_ref      := '@' identifier
-# const_elt    := identifier '=' number
-#
-# The fixedbit_elt and field_elt specifiers are unchanged from formats.
-# A pattern that does not specify a named format will have one inferred
-# from a referenced argument set (if present) and the set of fields.
-#
-# A const_elt allows a argument to be set to a constant value.  This may
-# come in handy when fields overlap between patterns and one has to
-# include the values in the fixedbit_elt instead.
-#
-# The decoder will call a translator function for each pattern matched.
-#
-# Pattern examples:
-#
-#   addl_r   010000 ..... ..... .... 0000000 ..... @opr
-#   addl_i   010000 ..... ..... .... 0000000 ..... @opi
-#
-# which will, in part, invoke
-#
-#   trans_addl_r(ctx, &arg_opr, insn)
-# and
-#   trans_addl_i(ctx, &arg_opi, insn)
+# See the syntax and semantics in docs/devel/decodetree.rst.
 #
 
 import os
@@ -163,6 +31,7 @@ fields = {}
 arguments = {}
 formats = {}
 patterns = []
+allpatterns = []
 
 translate_prefix = 'trans'
 translate_scope = 'static '
@@ -432,13 +301,7 @@ class General:
         self.fields = flds
 
     def __str__(self):
-        r = self.name
-        if self.base:
-            r = r + ' ' + self.base.name
-        else:
-            r = r + ' ' + str(self.fields)
-        r = r + ' ' + str_match_bits(self.fixedbits, self.fixedmask)
-        return r
+        return self.name + ' ' + str_match_bits(self.fixedbits, self.fixedmask)
 
     def str1(self, i):
         return str_indent(i) + self.__str__()
@@ -449,7 +312,8 @@ class Format(General):
     """Class representing an instruction format"""
 
     def extract_name(self):
-        return 'extract_' + self.name
+        global decode_function
+        return decode_function + '_extract_' + self.name
 
     def output_extract(self):
         output('static void ', self.extract_name(), '(',
@@ -480,11 +344,52 @@ class Pattern(General):
             output(ind, self.base.extract_name(), '(&u.f_', arg, ', insn);\n')
         for n, f in self.fields.items():
             output(ind, 'u.f_', arg, '.', n, ' = ', f.str_extract(), ';\n')
-        output(ind, 'return ', translate_prefix, '_', self.name,
-               '(ctx, &u.f_', arg, ');\n')
+        output(ind, 'if (', translate_prefix, '_', self.name,
+               '(ctx, &u.f_', arg, ')) return true;\n')
 # end Pattern
 
 
+class MultiPattern(General):
+    """Class representing an overlapping set of instruction patterns"""
+
+    def __init__(self, lineno, pats, fixb, fixm, udfm):
+        self.file = input_file
+        self.lineno = lineno
+        self.pats = pats
+        self.base = None
+        self.fixedbits = fixb
+        self.fixedmask = fixm
+        self.undefmask = udfm
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        r = "{"
+        for p in self.pats:
+           r = r + ' ' + str(p)
+        return r + "}"
+
+    def output_decl(self):
+        for p in self.pats:
+            p.output_decl()
+
+    def output_code(self, i, extracted, outerbits, outermask):
+        global translate_prefix
+        ind = str_indent(i)
+        for p in self.pats:
+            if outermask != p.fixedmask:
+                innermask = p.fixedmask & ~outermask
+                innerbits = p.fixedbits & ~outermask
+                output(ind, 'if ((insn & ',
+                       '0x{0:08x}) == 0x{1:08x}'.format(innermask, innerbits),
+                       ') {\n')
+                output(ind, '    /* ',
+                       str_match_bits(p.fixedbits, p.fixedmask), ' */\n')
+                p.output_code(i + 4, extracted, p.fixedbits, p.fixedmask)
+                output(ind, '}\n')
+            else:
+                p.output_code(i, extracted, p.fixedbits, p.fixedmask)
+#end MultiPattern
+
+
 def parse_field(lineno, name, toks):
     """Parse one instruction field from TOKS at LINENO"""
     global fields
@@ -637,6 +542,7 @@ def parse_generic(lineno, is_format, name, toks):
     global arguments
     global formats
     global patterns
+    global allpatterns
     global re_ident
     global insnwidth
     global insnmask
@@ -684,7 +590,7 @@ def parse_generic(lineno, is_format, name, toks):
             continue
 
         # 'Foo=number' sets an argument field to a constant value
-        if re_fullmatch(re_ident + '=[0-9]+', t):
+        if re_fullmatch(re_ident + '=[+-]?[0-9]+', t):
             (fname, value) = t.split('=')
             value = int(value)
             flds = add_field(lineno, flds, fname, ConstField(value))
@@ -716,6 +622,8 @@ def parse_generic(lineno, is_format, name, toks):
                 sign = True
                 flen = flen[1:]
             shift = int(flen, 10)
+            if shift + width > insnwidth:
+                error(lineno, 'field {0} exceeds insnwidth'.format(fname))
             f = Field(sign, insnwidth - width - shift, shift)
             flds = add_field(lineno, flds, fname, f)
             fixedbits <<= shift
@@ -781,6 +689,7 @@ def parse_generic(lineno, is_format, name, toks):
         pat = Pattern(name, lineno, fmt, fixedbits, fixedmask,
                       undefmask, fieldmask, flds)
         patterns.append(pat)
+        allpatterns.append(pat)
 
     # Validate the masks that we have assembled.
     if fieldmask & fixedmask:
@@ -799,17 +708,66 @@ def parse_generic(lineno, is_format, name, toks):
                           .format(allbits ^ insnmask))
 # end parse_general
 
+def build_multi_pattern(lineno, pats):
+    """Validate the Patterns going into a MultiPattern."""
+    global patterns
+    global insnmask
+
+    if len(pats) < 2:
+        error(lineno, 'less than two patterns within braces')
+
+    fixedmask = insnmask
+    undefmask = insnmask
+
+    # Collect fixed/undefmask for all of the children.
+    # Move the defining lineno back to that of the first child.
+    for p in pats:
+        fixedmask &= p.fixedmask
+        undefmask &= p.undefmask
+        if p.lineno < lineno:
+            lineno = p.lineno
+
+    repeat = True
+    while repeat:
+        if fixedmask == 0:
+            error(lineno, 'no overlap in patterns within braces')
+        fixedbits = None
+        for p in pats:
+            thisbits = p.fixedbits & fixedmask
+            if fixedbits is None:
+                fixedbits = thisbits
+            elif fixedbits != thisbits:
+                fixedmask &= ~(fixedbits ^ thisbits)
+                break
+        else:
+            repeat = False
+
+    mp = MultiPattern(lineno, pats, fixedbits, fixedmask, undefmask)
+    patterns.append(mp)
+# end build_multi_pattern
 
 def parse_file(f):
     """Parse all of the patterns within a file"""
 
+    global patterns
+
     # Read all of the lines of the file.  Concatenate lines
     # ending in backslash; discard empty lines and comments.
     toks = []
     lineno = 0
+    nesting = 0
+    saved_pats = []
+
     for line in f:
         lineno += 1
 
+        # Expand and strip spaces, to find indent.
+        line = line.rstrip()
+        line = line.expandtabs()
+        len1 = len(line)
+        line = line.lstrip()
+        len2 = len(line)
+
         # Discard comments
         end = line.find('#')
         if end >= 0:
@@ -819,10 +777,18 @@ def parse_file(f):
         if len(toks) != 0:
             # Next line after continuation
             toks.extend(t)
-        elif len(t) == 0:
-            # Empty line
-            continue
         else:
+            # Allow completely blank lines.
+            if len1 == 0:
+                continue
+            indent = len1 - len2
+            # Empty line due to comment.
+            if len(t) == 0:
+                # Indentation must be correct, even for comment lines.
+                if indent != nesting:
+                    error(lineno, 'indentation ', indent, ' != ', nesting)
+                continue
+            start_lineno = lineno
             toks = t
 
         # Continuation?
@@ -830,21 +796,47 @@ def parse_file(f):
             toks.pop()
             continue
 
-        if len(toks) < 2:
-            error(lineno, 'short line')
-
         name = toks[0]
         del toks[0]
 
+        # End nesting?
+        if name == '}':
+            if nesting == 0:
+                error(start_lineno, 'mismatched close brace')
+            if len(toks) != 0:
+                error(start_lineno, 'extra tokens after close brace')
+            nesting -= 2
+            if indent != nesting:
+                error(start_lineno, 'indentation ', indent, ' != ', nesting)
+            pats = patterns
+            patterns = saved_pats.pop()
+            build_multi_pattern(lineno, pats)
+            toks = []
+            continue
+
+        # Everything else should have current indentation.
+        if indent != nesting:
+            error(start_lineno, 'indentation ', indent, ' != ', nesting)
+
+        # Start nesting?
+        if name == '{':
+            if len(toks) != 0:
+                error(start_lineno, 'extra tokens after open brace')
+            saved_pats.append(patterns)
+            patterns = []
+            nesting += 2
+            toks = []
+            continue
+
         # Determine the type of object needing to be parsed.
         if name[0] == '%':
-            parse_field(lineno, name[1:], toks)
+            parse_field(start_lineno, name[1:], toks)
         elif name[0] == '&':
-            parse_arguments(lineno, name[1:], toks)
+            parse_arguments(start_lineno, name[1:], toks)
         elif name[0] == '@':
-            parse_generic(lineno, True, name[1:], toks)
+            parse_generic(start_lineno, True, name[1:], toks)
         else:
-            parse_generic(lineno, False, name, toks)
+            parse_generic(start_lineno, False, name, toks)
         toks = []
 # end parse_file
 
@@ -909,23 +901,22 @@ class Tree:
             output(ind, '    /* ',
                    str_match_bits(innerbits, innermask), ' */\n')
             s.output_code(i + 4, extracted, innerbits, innermask)
+            output(ind, '    return false;\n')
         output(ind, '}\n')
-        output(ind, 'return false;\n')
 # end Tree
 
 
 def build_tree(pats, outerbits, outermask):
     # Find the intersection of all remaining fixedmask.
-    innermask = ~outermask
+    innermask = ~outermask & insnmask
     for i in pats:
         innermask &= i.fixedmask
 
     if innermask == 0:
-        pnames = []
+        text = 'overlapping patterns:'
         for p in pats:
-            pnames.append(p.name + ':' + p.file + ':' + str(p.lineno))
-        error_with_file(pats[0].file, pats[0].lineno,
-                        'overlapping patterns:', pnames)
+            text += '\n' + p.file + ':' + str(p.lineno) + ': ' + str(p)
+        error_with_file(pats[0].file, pats[0].lineno, text)
 
     fullmask = outermask | innermask
 
@@ -978,6 +969,7 @@ def main():
     global arguments
     global formats
     global patterns
+    global allpatterns
     global translate_scope
     global translate_prefix
     global output_fd
@@ -990,7 +982,8 @@ def main():
 
     decode_scope = 'static '
 
-    long_opts = ['decode=', 'translate=', 'output=', 'insnwidth=']
+    long_opts = ['decode=', 'translate=', 'output=', 'insnwidth=',
+                 'static-decode=']
     try:
         (opts, args) = getopt.getopt(sys.argv[1:], 'o:w:', long_opts)
     except getopt.GetoptError as err:
@@ -1001,6 +994,8 @@ def main():
         elif o == '--decode':
             decode_function = a
             decode_scope = ''
+        elif o == '--static-decode':
+            decode_function = a
         elif o == '--translate':
             translate_prefix = a
             translate_scope = ''
@@ -1039,7 +1034,7 @@ def main():
     # Make sure that the argument sets are the same, and declare the
     # function only once.
     out_pats = {}
-    for i in patterns:
+    for i in allpatterns:
         if i.name in out_pats:
             p = out_pats[i.name]
             if i.base.base != p.base.base:
@@ -1057,14 +1052,16 @@ def main():
            '(DisasContext *ctx, ', insntype, ' insn)\n{\n')
 
     i4 = str_indent(4)
-    output(i4, 'union {\n')
-    for n in sorted(arguments.keys()):
-        f = arguments[n]
-        output(i4, i4, f.struct_name(), ' f_', f.name, ';\n')
-    output(i4, '} u;\n\n')
 
-    t.output_code(4, False, 0, 0)
+    if len(allpatterns) != 0:
+        output(i4, 'union {\n')
+        for n in sorted(arguments.keys()):
+            f = arguments[n]
+            output(i4, i4, f.struct_name(), ' f_', f.name, ';\n')
+        output(i4, '} u;\n\n')
+        t.output_code(4, False, 0, 0)
 
+    output(i4, 'return false;\n')
     output('}\n')
 
     if output_file:
diff --git a/tests/decode/check.sh b/tests/decode/check.sh
index 79a06c37cd..95445a0115 100755
--- a/tests/decode/check.sh
+++ b/tests/decode/check.sh
@@ -15,4 +15,10 @@ for i in err_*.decode; do
     fi
 done
 
+for i in succ_*.decode; do
+    if ! $PYTHON $DECODETREE $i > /dev/null 2> /dev/null; then
+        echo FAIL:$i 1>&2
+    fi
+done
+
 exit $E
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_empty.decode b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_empty.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abbff6b528
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_empty.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+# empty groups are not allowed
+{
+}
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident1.decode b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident1.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3e65fab2f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident1.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+%sub1 0:8
+
+# Make sure that indentation is enforced
+{
+    top      00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
+    sub1     00000000 00000000 00000000 ........ %sub1
+}
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident2.decode b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident2.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bc859233b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_ident2.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+%sub1 0:8
+
+# Make sure that indentation is enforced
+{
+  top      00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
+  sub1     00000000 00000000 00000000 ........ %sub1
+# comments are suposed to be indented
+}
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_nest1.decode b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_nest1.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..92e971c3c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_nest1.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+%sub1 0:8
+%sub2 8:8
+%sub3 16:8
+%sub4 24:8
+
+# Groups with no overlap are supposed to fail
+{
+  top  00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
+  sub4 ........ ........ ........ ........ %sub1 %sub2 %sub3 %sub4
+}
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_overlap1.decode b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_overlap1.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ebe3030d26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_pattern_group_overlap1.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+one	00000000000000000000000000000000
+{
+  two	0000000000000000000000000000000 s:1
+  three 000000000000000000000000000000 s:1 0
+}
+
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_width1.decode b/tests/decode/err_width1.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c14f6d73b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_width1.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+# Diagnose too many bits (33 of 32)
+one	000000000000000000000000000000000
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_width2.decode b/tests/decode/err_width2.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..47f0acf322
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_width2.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+# Diagnose too few bits (31 of 32)
+one	0000000000000000000000000000000
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_width3.decode b/tests/decode/err_width3.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5fb6b3699
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_width3.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+# Diagnose too many bits (33 of 32)
+one	0 s:32
diff --git a/tests/decode/err_width4.decode b/tests/decode/err_width4.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1588a63698
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/err_width4.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+# Diagnose too few bits (31 of 32)
+one	0 s:30
diff --git a/tests/decode/succ_pattern_group_nest1.decode b/tests/decode/succ_pattern_group_nest1.decode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..77b0f48b49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/decode/succ_pattern_group_nest1.decode
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2 or later.
+# See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+
+%sub1 0:8
+%sub2 8:8
+%sub3 16:8
+%sub4 24:7
+
+# Make sure deep netsting works, as few targets will actually exercise it
+{
+  top        00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
+  {
+    sub1     00000000 00000000 00000000 ........ %sub1
+    {
+      sub2   00000000 00000000 ........ ........ %sub1 %sub2
+      {
+        sub3 00000000 ........ ........ ........ %sub1 %sub2 %sub3
+        sub4 0....... ........ ........ ........ %sub1 %sub2 %sub3 %sub4
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}