diff --git a/test/unit/test_call.py b/test/unit/test_call.py
index 4fee7fd6eb..a38e69c90e 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_call.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_call.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import unittest
 import numpy as np
 from tinygrad import Tensor, function
 from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes
-from tinygrad.uop.ops import UOp
+from tinygrad.uop.ops import UOp, Ops
 
 class TestCall(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_call_plus(self):
@@ -100,6 +100,42 @@ class TestCall(unittest.TestCase):
     c = Tensor.call(a, b, fxn=a.as_param(0) + b.as_param(1))
     np.testing.assert_equal(c.numpy(), 2 * np.ones((10, 10)))
 
+class TestCallShape(unittest.TestCase):
+  def test_call_shape_int(self):
+    # fixed-shape function: shape passes through unchanged
+    @function
+    def f(x:Tensor) -> Tensor: return x * 2
+    self.assertEqual(f(Tensor.empty(4, 8)).shape, (4, 8))
+
+  def test_call_shape_param_substitution(self):
+    # symbolic shape dimension is substituted: inner PARAM replaced with the BIND arg
+    @function
+    def f(x:Tensor) -> Tensor: return x * 2
+    sz = UOp.variable("sz", 1, 8)
+    shape = f(Tensor.empty(8)[:sz.bind(5)]).shape
+    # the PARAM should be gone, replaced with the BIND from the call arg
+    self.assertIsInstance(shape[0], UOp)
+    self.assertNotEqual(shape[0].op, Ops.PARAM)
+    self.assertEqual(shape[0], sz.bind(5))
+
+  def test_call_shape_expr_substitution(self):
+    # expression containing PARAMs in shape gets fully substituted
+    @function
+    def f(x:Tensor) -> Tensor: return x + 1
+    sz = UOp.variable("sz", 1, 10)
+    shape = f(Tensor.empty(10, 4)[:sz.bind(3)]).shape
+    self.assertIsInstance(shape[0], UOp)
+    self.assertNotEqual(shape[0].op, Ops.PARAM)
+    self.assertEqual(shape[1], 4)
+
+  def test_call_shape_no_param_passthrough(self):
+    # a non-PARAM UOp shape element passes through unchanged
+    @function
+    def f(x:Tensor) -> Tensor: return x * 3
+    sz = UOp.variable("sz", 1, 8)
+    shape = f(Tensor.empty(8)[:sz.bind(5)]).shape
+    self.assertEqual(shape[0], sz.bind(5))
+
 class TestCallSchedule(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_reshape_precompile(self):
     a = Tensor.empty(4, 8).realize()
diff --git a/test/unit/test_llm_server.py b/test/unit/test_llm_server.py
index bf10ab6e7f..c43fa86f77 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_llm_server.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_llm_server.py
@@ -1,29 +1,84 @@
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import patch
-from tinygrad import Tensor
+from tinygrad import Tensor, UOp
+from tinygrad.engine.schedule import schedule_cache
 
 class TestTransformerGenerate(unittest.TestCase):
-  def test_start_pos_parameter_is_used(self):
-    """Test that start_pos parameter is not ignored (regression test for always resetting to 0)."""
+  def test_kv_cache_reuse(self):
+    """Test that generate reuses the KV cache when tokens extend the cached prefix."""
     from tinygrad.apps.llm import Transformer
-    # Create a minimal transformer
     model = Transformer(num_blocks=1, dim=64, hidden_dim=128, n_heads=2, n_kv_heads=2,
                         norm_eps=1e-5, vocab_size=100, head_dim=32, rope_theta=10000.0, max_context=32)
 
     captured_inputs = []
     def mock_call(self, tokens, start_pos):
-      captured_inputs.append((tokens.shape, start_pos if isinstance(start_pos, int) else start_pos.bind_val))
-      return Tensor([[42]])  # return a fake next token
+      captured_inputs.append((tokens.shape, start_pos if isinstance(start_pos, int) else start_pos.val))
+      return Tensor([[42]])
 
     with patch.object(Transformer, '__call__', mock_call):
+      # first conversation: prefill 5 tokens + 1 decode
       tokens = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
-      gen = model.generate(tokens, start_pos=3)
-      next(gen)  # get first token
+      gen = model.generate(tokens)
+      next(gen)  # prefill
+      next(gen)  # decode
 
-    # With start_pos=3, the initial tensor should only have tokens[3:] = [4, 5] (length 2)
-    # If the bug existed (start_pos always reset to 0), it would have all 5 tokens
-    self.assertEqual(captured_inputs[0][0][-1], 2)  # shape should be (1, 2)
-    self.assertEqual(captured_inputs[0][1], 3)  # start_pos should be 3, not 0
+      # second call extends the conversation — cached prefix should be reused
+      captured_inputs.clear()
+      tokens = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 42, 42, 10, 11, 12]
+      gen = model.generate(tokens)
+      next(gen)
+
+    # should only process tokens[7:] = [10, 11, 12] since first 7 are cached
+    toks_shape = captured_inputs[0][0][-1]
+    self.assertEqual(toks_shape.val if isinstance(toks_shape, UOp) else toks_shape, 3)
+    self.assertEqual(captured_inputs[0][1], 7)
+
+  def test_kv_cache_invalidation(self):
+    """Test that generate invalidates the KV cache when tokens diverge from the cached prefix."""
+    from tinygrad.apps.llm import Transformer
+    model = Transformer(num_blocks=1, dim=64, hidden_dim=128, n_heads=2, n_kv_heads=2,
+                        norm_eps=1e-5, vocab_size=100, head_dim=32, rope_theta=10000.0, max_context=32)
+
+    captured_inputs = []
+    def mock_call(self, tokens, start_pos):
+      captured_inputs.append((tokens.shape, start_pos if isinstance(start_pos, int) else start_pos.val))
+      return Tensor([[42]])
+
+    with patch.object(Transformer, '__call__', mock_call):
+      # first conversation
+      gen = model.generate([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
+      next(gen)
+
+      # completely different prompt — KV cache should be invalidated
+      captured_inputs.clear()
+      gen = model.generate([10, 20, 30])
+      next(gen)
+
+    # should process all 3 tokens from start
+    toks_shape = captured_inputs[0][0][-1]
+    self.assertEqual(toks_shape.val if isinstance(toks_shape, UOp) else toks_shape, 3)
+    self.assertEqual(captured_inputs[0][1], 0)
+
+  def test_two_prompts_schedule_cache(self):
+    """Second prompt prefill should hit the schedule cache, not miss."""
+    from tinygrad.apps.llm import Transformer
+    model = Transformer(num_blocks=1, dim=64, hidden_dim=128, n_heads=2, n_kv_heads=2,
+                        norm_eps=1e-5, vocab_size=100, head_dim=32, rope_theta=10000.0, max_context=64)
+
+    # first prompt: prefill + a few decode steps
+    ids = list(range(1, 6))
+    gen = model.generate(ids)
+    for _ in range(3): next(gen)
+    cache_size_after_first = len(schedule_cache)
+
+    # second prompt: simulates multi-turn chat (KV cache prefix is automatically reused)
+    ids += list(range(10, 15))
+    gen = model.generate(ids)
+    for _ in range(3): next(gen)
+
+    # the second prompt should reuse the same schedule cache entries, not create new ones
+    self.assertEqual(cache_size_after_first, len(schedule_cache),
+      f"second prompt added {len(schedule_cache) - cache_size_after_first} new schedule cache entries (expected 0)")
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   unittest.main()
diff --git a/tinygrad/apps/llm.py b/tinygrad/apps/llm.py
index cf773546d6..897e846de1 100644
--- a/tinygrad/apps/llm.py
+++ b/tinygrad/apps/llm.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
-import sys, argparse, typing, re, unicodedata, json, uuid, time, functools
+import sys, argparse, typing, re, unicodedata, json, uuid, time, functools, itertools
 from tinygrad import Tensor, nn, UOp, TinyJit, getenv, function
 from tinygrad.helpers import partition, DEBUG, Timing, GlobalCounters, stderr_log, colored
 from tinygrad.viz.serve import TCPServerWithReuse, HTTPRequestHandler
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class TransformerBlock:
 
     # NOTE: this mask is causal_lower_right, not the causal_upper_left generated by is_casual = True
     # TODO: this if statement should be removed and it shouldn't generate extra kernels
-    mask = Tensor.full((1, 1, T, start_pos+T), float("-inf"), dtype=x.dtype, device=x.device).triu(start_pos+1) if T > 1 else None
+    mask = Tensor.full((1, 1, T, start_pos+T), float("-inf"), dtype=x.dtype, device=x.device).triu(start_pos+1)
     attn = q.scaled_dot_product_attention(k, v, attn_mask=mask, enable_gqa=True)     # (B,H,T,Hd)
     attn = attn.transpose(1, 2).reshape(B, T, -1)                                    # back to (B,T,D)
     attn = self.attn_output(attn)
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ class Transformer:
     self.output_norm = nn.RMSNorm(dim, norm_eps)
     self.output = nn.Linear(dim, vocab_size, bias=False)
     self.max_context = max_context
+    self._cached_tokens: list[int] = []
     # JIT is used if T=1 and start_pos is a UOp. TODO: make this not needed by including T in the JIT and making start_pos always a UOp
     self.forward_jit = TinyJit(self.forward)
 
@@ -187,8 +188,7 @@ class Transformer:
     # TODO: add temperature
     return self.output(self.output_norm(x))[:, -1, :].softmax(-1, dtype="float").argmax(-1, keepdim=True)
 
-  def __call__(self, tokens:Tensor, start_pos:int|UOp=0) -> Tensor:
-    return (self.forward_jit if getenv("JIT", 1) and tokens.shape[1] == 1 and isinstance(start_pos, UOp) else self.forward)(tokens, start_pos)
+  def __call__(self, tokens:Tensor, start_pos:int|UOp=0) -> Tensor: return self.forward_jit(tokens, start_pos)
 
   @staticmethod
   def from_gguf(gguf:Tensor, max_context:int|None=None, realize=bool(getenv("REALIZE", 1))) -> tuple[Transformer, dict]:
@@ -226,15 +226,20 @@ class Transformer:
       Tensor.realize(*params)
     return model, kv
 
-  def generate(self, tokens:list[int], start_pos=0):
-    v_start_pos = UOp.variable("start_pos", 1, self.max_context-1)
-    t = Tensor([tokens[start_pos:]], dtype="int32")
+  def generate(self, tokens:list[int]):
+    v_start_pos = UOp.variable("start_pos", 0, self.max_context-1)
+    v_toks = UOp.variable("toks", 1, self.max_context)
+    # assign all input tokens once, then slice from start_pos for the model call
+    t = Tensor(tokens + [0] * (self.max_context - len(tokens)), dtype="int32").reshape(1, self.max_context)
+    # recompute start_pos from what's currently valid in the kv cache
+    start_pos = sum(1 for _ in itertools.takewhile(lambda ab: ab[0] == ab[1], zip(tokens, self._cached_tokens)))
     while len(tokens) < self.max_context:
-      t = self(t, v_start_pos.bind(start_pos) if getenv("SYM", 1) and start_pos != 0 and t.shape[-1] == 1 else start_pos)
-      next_id = int(t.item())
-      tokens.append(next_id)
-      start_pos = len(tokens) - 1
-      yield next_id
+      sp, nt = v_start_pos.bind(start_pos), v_toks.bind(len(tokens) - start_pos)
+      t[:, sp+nt:sp+nt+1] = out = self(t[:, sp:sp+nt], sp)
+      start_pos = len(tokens)
+      tokens.append(int(out.item()))
+      self._cached_tokens = tokens[:]
+      yield tokens[-1]
 
 models = {
   "llama3.2:1b": "https://huggingface.co/bartowski/Llama-3.2-1B-Instruct-GGUF/resolve/main/Llama-3.2-1B-Instruct-Q6_K.gguf",
@@ -363,7 +368,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
   # do benchmark
   if args.benchmark:
-    gen = model.generate(toks:=[bos_id or 0], 0)
+    gen = model.generate(toks:=[bos_id or 0])
     for _ in range(args.benchmark):
       GlobalCounters.reset()
       with Timing(on_exit=lambda x: f", {1e9/x:6.2f} tok/s, {GlobalCounters.global_mem/x:7.2f} GB/s,"
@@ -377,12 +382,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
   # interactive chat
   ids: list[int] = [bos_id] if bos_id is not None else []
   while 1:
-    start_pos = max(len(ids) - 1, 0)
     try:
       ids += tok.role("user") + tok.encode(input('>>> ')) + tok.end_turn(eos_id) + tok.role("assistant")
     except EOFError:
       break
-    for next_id in model.generate(ids, start_pos):
+    for next_id in model.generate(ids):
       sys.stdout.write(tok.decode([next_id]) if next_id != eos_id else "\n\n")
       sys.stdout.flush()
       if next_id == eos_id: break
diff --git a/tinygrad/codegen/gpudims.py b/tinygrad/codegen/gpudims.py
index 11fa8b7c72..91677ef001 100644
--- a/tinygrad/codegen/gpudims.py
+++ b/tinygrad/codegen/gpudims.py
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 import math
 from tinygrad.uop.ops import UOp, Ops, sint, PatternMatcher, UPat, KernelInfo, ssimplify, AxisType, sint_to_uop
-from tinygrad.helpers import all_int, dedup, get_contraction
+from tinygrad.helpers import dedup, get_contraction
 from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes, AddrSpace, Invalid
 from tinygrad.renderer import Renderer
 
+def _dim_max(d:sint) -> int: return d if isinstance(d, int) else int(d.vmax)
+
 def _group_dims(dims:tuple[sint, ...], max_sizes:tuple[int, ...]):
-  # TODO: symbolic shape
-  if not all_int(dims): return dims
   while len(dims) > len(max_sizes) or any(d > m for d,m in zip(dims, max_sizes)):
     for i,m in enumerate(max_sizes):
-      if i < (len(dims)-1) and dims[i] * dims[i+1] <= m:
+      if i < (len(dims)-1) and _dim_max(dims[i]) * _dim_max(dims[i+1]) <= m:
         dims = dims[:i] + (dims[i]*dims[i+1],) + dims[i+2:]
         break
     else: return None
diff --git a/tinygrad/uop/ops.py b/tinygrad/uop/ops.py
index 31b19f4262..c471ac66b1 100644
--- a/tinygrad/uop/ops.py
+++ b/tinygrad/uop/ops.py
@@ -239,9 +239,15 @@ class UOp(OpMixin, metaclass=UOpMetaClass):
         return None
 
       # passthrough ops
-      case Ops.REDUCE | Ops.MSTACK | Ops.MSELECT | Ops.DETACH | Ops.CONTIGUOUS | Ops.CONTIGUOUS_BACKWARD | Ops.AFTER | Ops.END | Ops.CALL:
+      case Ops.REDUCE | Ops.MSTACK | Ops.MSELECT | Ops.DETACH | Ops.CONTIGUOUS | Ops.CONTIGUOUS_BACKWARD | Ops.AFTER | Ops.END:
         return self.src[0]._shape
 
+      case Ops.CALL:
+        inner_shape = self.src[0]._shape
+        if inner_shape is None: return None
+        # substitute internal PARAMs in the shape with corresponding args
+        return tuple(graph_rewrite(s, _pm_resolve_params, self.src[1:], walk=True) if isinstance(s, UOp) else s for s in inner_shape)
+
       # TODO: disallow shape changing bitcast
       case Ops.BITCAST:
         ps = self.src[0]._shape
@@ -1415,6 +1421,7 @@ pm_lower_index_dtype = PatternMatcher([
 def _index_to_concrete_int(u:UOp) -> UOp: return graph_rewrite(u.sink(), pm_lower_index_dtype).src[0]
 
 _substitute = PatternMatcher([(UPat(tuple(Ops), name="x"), lambda ctx,x: ctx.get(x,None))])
+_pm_resolve_params = PatternMatcher([(UPat(Ops.PARAM, name="p"), lambda ctx,p: ctx[p.arg])])
 _remove_all_tags = PatternMatcher([(UPat(GroupOp.All, name="x"), lambda x: x.replace(tag=None) if x.tag is not None else None)])
 
 def gate_kernel_sink(x:UOp) -> bool:
diff --git a/tinygrad/uop/spec.py b/tinygrad/uop/spec.py
index c7f18f0794..971b81763e 100644
--- a/tinygrad/uop/spec.py
+++ b/tinygrad/uop/spec.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ movement_ops = PatternMatcher([
   (UPat((Ops.VECTORIZE, Ops.VCONST), dtype=dtypes.index), lambda: True),
   (UPat({Ops.ADD, Ops.MUL, Ops.IDIV}, dtype=dtypes.index), lambda: True),
 
-  # AFTER on Movement Op
-  (UPat(Ops.AFTER, src=(UPat(GroupOp.Movement.union({Ops.MULTI, Ops.CONTIGUOUS})),), allow_any_len=True), lambda: True),
+  # AFTER on Movement Op or ASSIGN
+  (UPat(Ops.AFTER, src=(UPat(GroupOp.Movement.union({Ops.MULTI, Ops.CONTIGUOUS, Ops.ASSIGN})),), allow_any_len=True), lambda: True),
 ])
 
 _tensor_spec = PatternMatcher([