diff --git a/src/syndicate.nim b/src/syndicate.nim
index ecba1a4..acd7a9b 100644
--- a/src/syndicate.nim
+++ b/src/syndicate.nim
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ proc wrapPublishHandler(handler: NimNode): NimNode =
     proc `handlerSym`(entity: Entity; `turnSym`: var Turn; bindings: Assertion; `handleSym`: Handle) =
       `varSectionOuter`
       if fromPreserve(`valuesSym`, bindings):
-        template `onRetractIdent`(retractBody: untyped): untyped =
+        template `onRetractIdent`(retractBody: untyped): untyped {.used.} =
           proc callback(e: Entity; turn: var Turn; h: Handle) =
             retractBody
           entity.retractImpl = callback # TODO: fine to clobber previous callback?