diff --git a/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs b/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
index aedf8f3a..72f2e851 100644
--- a/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
+++ b/packages/transpiler/transpiler.mjs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-import escodegen from 'escodegen';
-import { parse } from 'acorn';
-import { walk } from 'estree-walker';
-import { isNoteWithOctave } from '@strudel/core';
 import { getLeafLocations } from '@strudel/mini';
+import { parse } from 'acorn';
+import escodegen from 'escodegen';
+import { walk } from 'estree-walker';
 
 export function transpiler(input, options = {}) {
   const { wrapAsync = false, addReturn = true, emitMiniLocations = true, emitWidgets = true } = options;
@@ -47,6 +46,9 @@ export function transpiler(input, options = {}) {
           });
         return this.replace(widgetWithLocation(node));
       }
+      if (isBareSamplesCall(node, parent)) {
+        return this.replace(withAwait(node));
+      }
     },
     leave(node, parent, prop, index) {},
   });
@@ -119,3 +121,14 @@ function widgetWithLocation(node) {
   node.callee.name = 'sliderWithID';
   return node;
 }
+
+function isBareSamplesCall(node, parent) {
+  return node.type === 'CallExpression' && node.callee.name === 'samples' && parent.type !== 'AwaitExpression';
+}
+
+function withAwait(node) {
+  return {
+    type: 'AwaitExpression',
+    argument: node,
+  };
+}