diff --git a/lang_tests/inst_var_at.som b/lang_tests/inst_var_at.som
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4c59d1da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lang_tests/inst_var_at.som
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+"
+VM:
+  status: success
+  stdout: 5
+"
+
+inst_var_at = (
+    | x |
+
+    run = (
+        x := 5.
+        (self instVarAt: 1) println.
+    )
+)
diff --git a/lang_tests/inst_var_at_bad_idx.som b/lang_tests/inst_var_at_bad_idx.som
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4f6abcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lang_tests/inst_var_at_bad_idx.som
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+"
+VM:
+  status: error
+  stderr:
+    Traceback...
+    ...
+    Index 2 not valid for array of length 1.
+"
+
+inst_var_at_bad_idx = (
+    | x |
+
+    run = (
+        x := 5.
+        (self instVarAt: 2) println.
+    )
+)
diff --git a/src/lib/vm/core.rs b/src/lib/vm/core.rs
index c8b6c2d7..0bafcfd4 100644
--- a/src/lib/vm/core.rs
+++ b/src/lib/vm/core.rs
@@ -815,7 +815,13 @@ impl VM {
                 SendReturn::Val
             }
             Primitive::Inspect => unimplemented!(),
-            Primitive::InstVarAt => unimplemented!(),
+            Primitive::InstVarAt => {
+                let n = stry!(self.stack.pop().as_usize(self));
+                let inst = stry!(rcv.tobj(self));
+                let v = stry!(inst.inst_var_at(self, n));
+                self.stack.push(v);
+                SendReturn::Val
+            }
             Primitive::InstVarAtPut => unimplemented!(),
             Primitive::InstVarNamed => unimplemented!(),
             Primitive::InvokeOnWith => todo!(),
diff --git a/src/lib/vm/objects/instance.rs b/src/lib/vm/objects/instance.rs
index 02c29b5b..d9732051 100644
--- a/src/lib/vm/objects/instance.rs
+++ b/src/lib/vm/objects/instance.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ impl Obj for Inst {
         self.class
     }
 
+    fn num_inst_vars(&self) -> usize {
+        unsafe { &*self.inst_vars.get() }.len()
+    }
+
     unsafe fn unchecked_inst_var_get(&self, n: usize) -> Val {
         let inst_vars = &mut *self.inst_vars.get();
         inst_vars[n]
diff --git a/src/lib/vm/objects/mod.rs b/src/lib/vm/objects/mod.rs
index 62277353..66018ff0 100644
--- a/src/lib/vm/objects/mod.rs
+++ b/src/lib/vm/objects/mod.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,11 @@ pub use string_::String_;
 use natrob::narrowable_rboehm;
 use rboehm::Gc;
 
-use crate::vm::{core::VM, error::VMError, val::Val};
+use crate::vm::{
+    core::VM,
+    error::{VMError, VMErrorKind},
+    val::Val,
+};
 
 /// The SOM type of objects.
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
@@ -93,6 +97,26 @@ pub trait Obj: std::fmt::Debug {
         unreachable!();
     }
 
+    /// How many instance variables does this object contain?
+    fn num_inst_vars(&self) -> usize {
+        unreachable!();
+    }
+
+    /// Return the instance variable at `i` (using SOM indexing).
+    fn inst_var_at(&self, vm: &VM, i: usize) -> Result<Val, Box<VMError>> {
+        if i > 0 && i <= self.num_inst_vars() {
+            Ok(unsafe { self.unchecked_inst_var_get(i - 1) })
+        } else {
+            Err(VMError::new(
+                vm,
+                VMErrorKind::IndexError {
+                    tried: i,
+                    max: self.num_inst_vars(),
+                },
+            ))
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Lookup an instance variable in this object. If `usize` exceeds the number of instance
     /// variables this will lead to undefined behaviour.
     unsafe fn unchecked_inst_var_get(&self, _: usize) -> Val {