diff --git a/extra/torch_backend/backend.py b/extra/torch_backend/backend.py
index d5993f64b0..615b2a8074 100644
--- a/extra/torch_backend/backend.py
+++ b/extra/torch_backend/backend.py
@@ -155,16 +155,14 @@ def index_tensor(x, y):
 def zero_(x):
   if TORCH_DEBUG: print(f"zero_ {x.shape}")
   tt = unwrap(x)
-  # NOTE: unconditional contiguous covers if x is contiguous (match it) or if x is view (realize for inplace)
-  # TODO: consolidate
-  tt.assign(tt.zeros_like().contiguous())
+  tt.replace(tt.zeros_like())
 
 @torch.library.impl("aten::fill_.Scalar", "privateuseone")
 @inplace_fn("x")
 def fill_scalar(x, y):
   if TORCH_DEBUG: print(f"fill_.Scalar {x.shape} {y}")
   tt = unwrap(x)
-  tt.assign(tt.full_like(y).contiguous())
+  tt.replace(tt.full_like(y))
 
 @torch.library.impl("aten::_local_scalar_dense", "privateuseone")
 def _local_scalar_dense(tensor): return unwrap(tensor).item()