diff --git a/buildengine/testdata/projects/another/another.go b/buildengine/testdata/projects/another/another.go
index 29db36055a..3feeb64258 100644
--- a/buildengine/testdata/projects/another/another.go
+++ b/buildengine/testdata/projects/another/another.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type One int
 
 func (One) typeEnum() {}
 
+//ftl:typealias export
 type Two string
 
 func (Two) typeEnum() {}
diff --git a/buildengine/testdata/projects/other/other.go b/buildengine/testdata/projects/other/other.go
index fba9dbf85c..01a8c2e900 100644
--- a/buildengine/testdata/projects/other/other.go
+++ b/buildengine/testdata/projects/other/other.go
@@ -35,21 +35,21 @@ type MyTime time.Time
 
 func (MyTime) tag() {}
 
-type MyList []string
+type List []string
 
-func (MyList) tag() {}
+func (List) tag() {}
 
-type MyMap map[string]string
+type Map map[string]string
 
-func (MyMap) tag() {}
+func (Map) tag() {}
 
 type MyString string
 
 func (MyString) tag() {}
 
-type MyStruct struct{}
+type Struct struct{}
 
-func (MyStruct) tag() {}
+func (Struct) tag() {}
 
 type MyOption ftl.Option[string]
 
diff --git a/buildengine/testdata/type_registry_main.go b/buildengine/testdata/type_registry_main.go
index c3fbba29c6..72dbbdcaee 100644
--- a/buildengine/testdata/type_registry_main.go
+++ b/buildengine/testdata/type_registry_main.go
@@ -32,17 +32,17 @@ func main() {
 			*new(other.B),
 		),
 		reflection.WithSumType[other.TypeEnum](
-			*new(other.MyBool),
-			*new(other.MyBytes),
-			*new(other.MyFloat),
-			*new(other.MyInt),
-			*new(other.MyTime),
-			*new(other.MyList),
-			*new(other.MyMap),
-			*new(other.MyString),
-			*new(other.MyStruct),
-			*new(other.MyOption),
-			*new(other.MyUnit),
+			*new(other.Bool),
+			*new(other.Bytes),
+			*new(other.Float),
+			*new(other.Int),
+			*new(other.Time),
+			*new(other.List),
+			*new(other.Map),
+			*new(other.String),
+			*new(other.Struct),
+			*new(other.Option),
+			*new(other.Unit),
 		),
 	)
 	ctx = reflection.ContextWithTypeRegistry(ctx, tr)
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/build.go b/go-runtime/compile/build.go
index 82b36edac8..f027d2fcd2 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/build.go
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/build.go
@@ -350,19 +350,6 @@ var scaffoldFuncs = scaffolder.FuncMap{
 		return out
 	},
 	"schemaType": schemaType,
-	// A standalone enum variant is one that is purely an alias to a type and does not appear
-	// elsewhere in the schema.
-	"isStandaloneEnumVariant": func(v schema.EnumVariant) bool {
-		tv, ok := v.Value.(*schema.TypeValue)
-		if !ok {
-			return false
-		}
-		if ref, ok := tv.Value.(*schema.Ref); ok {
-			return ref.Name != v.Name
-		}
-
-		return false
-	},
 }
 
 func schemaType(t schema.Type) string {
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/external-module-template/_ftl/go/modules/{{ range .NonMainModules }}{{ push .Name . }}{{ end }}/external_module.go b/go-runtime/compile/external-module-template/_ftl/go/modules/{{ range .NonMainModules }}{{ push .Name . }}{{ end }}/external_module.go
index 2c55ad8d27..3af5a9754c 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/external-module-template/_ftl/go/modules/{{ range .NonMainModules }}{{ push .Name . }}{{ end }}/external_module.go	
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/external-module-template/_ftl/go/modules/{{ range .NonMainModules }}{{ push .Name . }}{{ end }}/external_module.go	
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const (
 {{$enumInterfaceFuncName := enumInterfaceFunc . -}}
 type {{.Name|title}} interface { {{$enumInterfaceFuncName}}() }
 {{- range .Variants }}
-{{if (or (basicType $ .) (isStandaloneEnumVariant .))}}
+{{if basicType $ .}}
 type {{.Name|title}} {{type $ .Value.Value}}
 {{end}}
 func ({{.Name|title}}) {{$enumInterfaceFuncName}}() {}
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/schema.go b/go-runtime/compile/schema.go
index 926a193e37..7f6b301dec 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/schema.go
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/schema.go
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ func extractTypeDeclsForNode(pctx *parseContext, node *ast.GenDecl) {
 		switch dir := dir.(type) {
 		case *directiveEnum:
 			typ := pctx.pkg.TypesInfo.TypeOf(t.Type)
-			switch underlying := typ.Underlying().(type) {
+			switch typ.Underlying().(type) {
 			case *types.Basic:
 				enum := &schema.Enum{
 					Pos:      goPosToSchemaPos(node.Pos()),
@@ -252,23 +252,6 @@ func extractTypeDeclsForNode(pctx *parseContext, node *ast.GenDecl) {
 				pctx.module.Decls = append(pctx.module.Decls, enum)
 				pctx.nativeNames[enum] = nativeName
 			case *types.Interface:
-				if underlying.NumMethods() == 0 {
-					pctx.errors.add(errorf(node, "enum discriminator %q must define at least one method", t.Name.Name))
-					break
-				}
-
-				hasExportedMethod := false
-				for i, n := 0, underlying.NumMethods(); i < n; i++ {
-					if underlying.Method(i).Exported() {
-						pctx.errors.add(noEndColumnErrorf(underlying.Method(i).Pos(), "enum discriminator %q cannot "+
-							"contain exported methods", t.Name.Name))
-						hasExportedMethod = true
-					}
-				}
-				if hasExportedMethod {
-					break
-				}
-
 				enum := &schema.Enum{
 					Pos:      goPosToSchemaPos(node.Pos()),
 					Comments: visitComments(node.Doc),
@@ -688,7 +671,7 @@ func visitGenDecl(pctx *parseContext, node *ast.GenDecl) {
 							}
 						}
 					} else if _, ok := dir.(*directiveTypeAlias); ok {
-						decl, ok := pctx.getDeclForTypeName(t.Name.Name).Get()
+						decl, ok := pctx.getDeclForTypeName(t.Name.Name)
 						if !ok {
 							pctx.errors.add(errorf(node, "could not find type alias declaration for %q", t.Name.Name))
 							return
@@ -799,7 +782,10 @@ func maybeVisitTypeEnumVariant(pctx *parseContext, node *ast.GenDecl, directives
 		isExported := enum.IsExported()
 		for _, dir := range directives {
 			if exportableDir, ok := dir.(exportable); ok {
-				isExported = exportableDir.IsExported() || isExported
+				if enum.Export && !exportableDir.IsExported() {
+					pctx.errors.add(errorf(node, "parent enum %q is exported, but directive %q on %q is not: all variants of exported enums that have a directive must be explicitly exported as well", enumName, exportableDir, t.Name.Name))
+				}
+				isExported = exportableDir.IsExported()
 			}
 		}
 		vType, ok := visitTypeValue(pctx, named, t.Type, nil, isExported).Get()
@@ -879,11 +865,7 @@ func visitTypeValue(pctx *parseContext, named *types.Named, tnode ast.Expr, inde
 		}
 
 	default:
-		variantNode := pctx.pkg.TypesInfo.TypeOf(tnode)
-		if _, ok := variantNode.(*types.Struct); ok {
-			variantNode = named
-		}
-		if typ, ok := visitType(pctx, tnode.Pos(), variantNode, isExported).Get(); ok {
+		if typ, ok := visitType(pctx, tnode.Pos(), named, isExported).Get(); ok {
 			return optional.Some(&schema.TypeValue{Value: typ})
 		} else {
 			pctx.errors.add(errorf(tnode, "unsupported type %q for type enum variant", named))
@@ -1256,14 +1238,20 @@ func visitType(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, tnode types.Type, isExported b
 	if tparam, ok := tnode.(*types.TypeParam); ok {
 		return optional.Some[schema.Type](&schema.Ref{Pos: goPosToSchemaPos(pos), Name: tparam.Obj().Id()})
 	}
-
 	if named, ok := tnode.(*types.Named); ok {
 		// Handle refs to type aliases and enums, rather than the underlying type.
-		decl, ok := pctx.getDeclForTypeName(named.Obj().Name()).Get()
+		decl, ok := pctx.getDeclForTypeName(named.Obj().Name())
 		if ok {
 			switch decl.(type) {
 			case *schema.TypeAlias, *schema.Enum:
-				return visitNamedRef(pctx, pos, named, isExported)
+				if isExported {
+					pctx.markAsExported(decl)
+				}
+				return optional.Some[schema.Type](&schema.Ref{
+					Pos:    goPosToSchemaPos(pos),
+					Module: pctx.module.Name,
+					Name:   strcase.ToUpperCamel(named.Obj().Name()),
+				})
 			case *schema.Data, *schema.Verb, *schema.Config, *schema.Secret, *schema.Database, *schema.FSM:
 			}
 		}
@@ -1272,8 +1260,12 @@ func visitType(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, tnode types.Type, isExported b
 	switch underlying := tnode.Underlying().(type) {
 	case *types.Basic:
 		if named, ok := tnode.(*types.Named); ok {
-			return visitNamedRef(pctx, pos, named, isExported)
+			ref, doneWithVisit := visitNamedRef(pctx, pos, named)
+			if doneWithVisit {
+				return ref
+			}
 		}
+
 		switch underlying.Kind() {
 		case types.String:
 			return optional.Some[schema.Type](&schema.String{Pos: goPosToSchemaPos(pos)})
@@ -1340,7 +1332,10 @@ func visitType(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, tnode types.Type, isExported b
 			return optional.Some[schema.Type](&schema.Any{Pos: goPosToSchemaPos(pos)})
 		}
 		if named, ok := tnode.(*types.Named); ok {
-			return visitNamedRef(pctx, pos, named, isExported)
+			ref, doneWithVisit := visitNamedRef(pctx, pos, named)
+			if doneWithVisit {
+				return ref
+			}
 		}
 		return optional.None[schema.Type]()
 
@@ -1349,39 +1344,32 @@ func visitType(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, tnode types.Type, isExported b
 	}
 }
 
-func visitNamedRef(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, named *types.Named, isExported bool) optional.Option[schema.Type] {
+func visitNamedRef(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, named *types.Named) (optional.Option[schema.Type], bool) {
 	if named.Obj().Pkg() == nil {
-		return optional.None[schema.Type]()
+		return optional.None[schema.Type](), false
 	}
-
-	// Update the visibility of the reference if the referencer is exported (ensuring refs are transitively
-	// exported as needed).
-	if isExported {
-		if decl, ok := pctx.getDeclForTypeName(named.Obj().Name()).Get(); ok {
-			pctx.markAsExported(decl)
-		}
-	}
-
 	nodePath := named.Obj().Pkg().Path()
-	destModule := pctx.module.Name
+	var ref *schema.Ref
 	if !pctx.isPathInPkg(nodePath) {
 		if strings.HasPrefix(nodePath, pctx.pkg.PkgPath+"/") {
 			pctx.errors.add(noEndColumnErrorf(pos, "unsupported type %s from subpackage", named.Obj().Pkg().Path()+"."+named.Obj().Name()))
-			return optional.None[schema.Type]()
+			return optional.None[schema.Type](), true
 		} else if !strings.HasPrefix(named.Obj().Pkg().Path(), "ftl/") {
 			pctx.errors.add(noEndColumnErrorf(pos,
 				"unsupported external type %q", named.Obj().Pkg().Path()+"."+named.Obj().Name()))
-			return optional.None[schema.Type]()
+			return optional.None[schema.Type](), true
 		}
 		base := path.Dir(pctx.pkg.PkgPath)
-		destModule = path.Base(strings.TrimPrefix(nodePath, base+"/"))
-	}
-	ref := &schema.Ref{
-		Pos:    goPosToSchemaPos(pos),
-		Module: destModule,
-		Name:   strcase.ToUpperCamel(named.Obj().Name()),
+		destModule := path.Base(strings.TrimPrefix(nodePath, base+"/"))
+		ref = &schema.Ref{
+			Pos:    goPosToSchemaPos(pos),
+			Module: destModule,
+			Name:   named.Obj().Name(),
+		}
+		return optional.Some[schema.Type](ref), true
 	}
-	return optional.Some[schema.Type](ref)
+	return optional.None[schema.Type](), false
+
 }
 
 func visitMap(pctx *parseContext, pos token.Pos, tnode *types.Map, isExported bool) optional.Option[schema.Type] {
@@ -1539,7 +1527,7 @@ func (p *parseContext) isPathInPkg(path string) bool {
 
 // getEnumForTypeName returns the enum and interface for a given type name.
 func (p *parseContext) getEnumForTypeName(name string) (optional.Option[*schema.Enum], optional.Option[*types.Interface]) {
-	aDecl, ok := p.getDeclForTypeName(name).Get()
+	aDecl, ok := p.getDeclForTypeName(name)
 	if !ok {
 		return optional.None[*schema.Enum](), optional.None[*types.Interface]()
 	}
@@ -1558,7 +1546,7 @@ func (p *parseContext) getEnumForTypeName(name string) (optional.Option[*schema.
 	return optional.Some(decl), optional.None[*types.Interface]()
 }
 
-func (p *parseContext) getDeclForTypeName(name string) optional.Option[schema.Decl] {
+func (p *parseContext) getDeclForTypeName(name string) (enum schema.Decl, ok bool) {
 	for _, decl := range p.module.Decls {
 		nativeName, ok := p.nativeNames[decl]
 		if !ok {
@@ -1567,9 +1555,9 @@ func (p *parseContext) getDeclForTypeName(name string) optional.Option[schema.De
 		if nativeName != p.pkg.Name+"."+name {
 			continue
 		}
-		return optional.Some(decl)
+		return decl, true
 	}
-	return optional.None[schema.Decl]()
+	return nil, false
 }
 
 func (p *parseContext) markAsExported(node schema.Node) {
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/schema_test.go b/go-runtime/compile/schema_test.go
index 4e9fac48da..2f2614e7f9 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/schema_test.go
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/schema_test.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestExtractModuleSchema(t *testing.T) {
   }
 
   // Comments about ColorInt.
-  export enum ColorInt: Int {
+  enum ColorInt: Int {
     // RedInt is a color.
     RedInt = 0
     BlueInt = 1
@@ -92,13 +92,6 @@ func TestExtractModuleSchema(t *testing.T) {
     Two = 2
   }
 
-  export enum TypeEnum {
-    Option String?
-    InlineStruct one.InlineStruct
-    AliasedStruct one.UnderlyingStruct
-    ValueEnum one.ColorInt
-  }
-
   data Config {
     field String
   }
@@ -114,9 +107,6 @@ func TestExtractModuleSchema(t *testing.T) {
   export data ExportedStruct {
   }
 
-  export data InlineStruct {
-  }
-
   export data Nested {
   }
 
@@ -150,9 +140,6 @@ func TestExtractModuleSchema(t *testing.T) {
   data SourceResp {
   }
 
-  export data UnderlyingStruct {
-  }
-
   data WithoutDirectiveStruct {
   }
 
@@ -323,7 +310,7 @@ func TestExtractModuleSchemaNamedTypes(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, normaliseString(expected), normaliseString(actual.String()))
 }
 
-func TestParsedirectives(t *testing.T) {
+func TestParseDirectives(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name     string
 		input    string
@@ -452,19 +439,16 @@ func TestErrorReporting(t *testing.T) {
 		`90:2-12: struct field unexported must be exported by starting with an uppercase letter`,
 		`102:2-24: cannot attach enum value to BadValueEnum because it is a variant of type enum TypeEnum, not a value enum`,
 		`109:2-41: cannot attach enum value to BadValueEnumOrderDoesntMatter because it is a variant of type enum TypeEnum, not a value enum`,
+		`118:1-26: parent enum "ExportedTypeEnum" is exported, but directive "ftl:data" on "PrivateData" is not: all variants of exported enums that have a directive must be explicitly exported as well`,
 		`122:21-60: config and secret names must be valid identifiers`,
 		`128:1-26: only one directive expected for type alias`,
 		`144:1-35: type can not be a variant of more than 1 type enums (TypeEnum1, TypeEnum2)`,
-		`150:27-27: enum discriminator "TypeEnum3" cannot contain exported methods`,
-		`153:1-35: enum discriminator "NoMethodsTypeEnum" must define at least one method`,
-		`156:1-2: could not find enum called NoMethodsTypeEnum`,
-		`158:2-2: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct from subpackage`,
-		`158:2-6: unsupported type "ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct" for field "Data"`,
-		`159:2-2: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildString from subpackage`,
-		`159:2-8: unsupported type "ftl/failing/child.ChildString" for field "String"`,
-		`163:1-1: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct from subpackage`,
-		"163:1-33: could not find enum called NoMethodsTypeEnum",
-		`163:1-33: unsupported type "struct{Name string}" for type alias`,
+		`152:2-2: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct from subpackage`,
+		`152:2-6: unsupported type "ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct" for field "Data"`,
+		`153:2-2: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildString from subpackage`,
+		`153:2-8: unsupported type "ftl/failing/child.ChildString" for field "String"`,
+		`157:1-1: unsupported type ftl/failing/child.ChildStruct from subpackage`,
+		`157:1-33: unsupported type "struct{Name string}" for type alias`,
 	}
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, actual)
 }
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/testdata/failing/failing.go b/go-runtime/compile/testdata/failing/failing.go
index 976fd3d559..058013659d 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/testdata/failing/failing.go
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/testdata/failing/failing.go
@@ -146,12 +146,6 @@ type ConformsToTwoTypeEnums string
 func (ConformsToTwoTypeEnums) typeEnum1() {}
 func (ConformsToTwoTypeEnums) typeEnum2() {}
 
-//ftl:enum
-type TypeEnum3 interface{ ExportedMethod() }
-
-//ftl:enum
-type NoMethodsTypeEnum interface{}
-
 //ftl:data
 type StructUsingSubpackage struct {
 	Message string            `json:"message"`
diff --git a/go-runtime/compile/testdata/one/one.go b/go-runtime/compile/testdata/one/one.go
index 48dca4ac9b..6f7140a4fa 100644
--- a/go-runtime/compile/testdata/one/one.go
+++ b/go-runtime/compile/testdata/one/one.go
@@ -64,29 +64,6 @@ func (List) blobOrList() {}
 type Nested struct {
 }
 
-//ftl:enum
-type TypeEnum interface {
-	tag()
-}
-
-type Option ftl.Option[string]
-
-func (Option) tag() {}
-
-type InlineStruct struct{}
-
-func (InlineStruct) tag() {}
-
-type AliasedStruct UnderlyingStruct
-
-func (AliasedStruct) tag() {}
-
-type UnderlyingStruct struct{}
-
-type ValueEnum ColorInt
-
-func (ValueEnum) tag() {}
-
 //ftl:enum
 type PrivateEnum interface{ privateEnum() }