diff --git a/mypyc/codegen/emit.py b/mypyc/codegen/emit.py
index 3f858c773b6f..5af8e0ef6f31 100644
--- a/mypyc/codegen/emit.py
+++ b/mypyc/codegen/emit.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     is_list_rprimitive, is_dict_rprimitive, is_set_rprimitive, is_tuple_rprimitive,
     is_none_rprimitive, is_object_rprimitive, object_rprimitive, is_str_rprimitive,
     int_rprimitive, is_optional_type, optional_value_type, is_int32_rprimitive,
-    is_int64_rprimitive, is_bit_rprimitive
+    is_int64_rprimitive, is_bit_rprimitive, is_bytes_rprimitive
 )
 from mypyc.ir.func_ir import FuncDecl
 from mypyc.ir.class_ir import ClassIR, all_concrete_classes
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ def emit_cast(self, src: str, dest: str, typ: RType, declare_dest: bool = False,
         # TODO: Verify refcount handling.
         if (is_list_rprimitive(typ) or is_dict_rprimitive(typ) or is_set_rprimitive(typ)
                 or is_float_rprimitive(typ) or is_str_rprimitive(typ) or is_int_rprimitive(typ)
-                or is_bool_rprimitive(typ)):
+                or is_bool_rprimitive(typ) or is_bytes_rprimitive(typ)):
             if declare_dest:
                 self.emit_line('PyObject *{};'.format(dest))
             if is_list_rprimitive(typ):
@@ -416,6 +416,8 @@ def emit_cast(self, src: str, dest: str, typ: RType, declare_dest: bool = False,
                 prefix = 'PyLong'
             elif is_bool_rprimitive(typ) or is_bit_rprimitive(typ):
                 prefix = 'PyBool'
+            elif is_bytes_rprimitive(typ):
+                prefix = 'PyBytes'
             else:
                 assert False, 'unexpected primitive type'
             check = '({}_Check({}))'
diff --git a/mypyc/doc/dev-intro.md b/mypyc/doc/dev-intro.md
index 1e14d00645db..5b4da5776633 100644
--- a/mypyc/doc/dev-intro.md
+++ b/mypyc/doc/dev-intro.md
@@ -487,8 +487,12 @@ operations, and so on. You likely also want to add some faster,
 specialized primitive operations for the type (see Adding a
 Specialized Primitive Operation above for how to do this).
 
-Add a test case to `mypyc/test-data/run.test` to test compilation and
-running compiled code. Ideas for things to test:
+Add a test case file `mypyc/test-data/run-<type>.test` to test
+compilation and running compiled code. Update `mypyc/test/test_run.py`
+to include the new file. You may need to also add something to
+`mypyc/test-data/fixtures/ir.py` (stubs used by tests).
+
+Ideas for things to test:
 
 * Test using the type as an argument.
 
diff --git a/mypyc/ir/rtypes.py b/mypyc/ir/rtypes.py
index 3e6ec79d131f..ba30ce1a6585 100644
--- a/mypyc/ir/rtypes.py
+++ b/mypyc/ir/rtypes.py
@@ -294,6 +294,10 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
 # (PyUnicode).
 str_rprimitive = RPrimitive('builtins.str', is_unboxed=False, is_refcounted=True)  # type: Final
 
+# Python bytes object.
+bytes_rprimitive = RPrimitive('builtins.bytes', is_unboxed=False,
+                              is_refcounted=True)  # type: Final
+
 # Tuple of an arbitrary length (corresponds to Tuple[t, ...], with
 # explicit '...').
 tuple_rprimitive = RPrimitive('builtins.tuple', is_unboxed=False,
@@ -364,6 +368,10 @@ def is_str_rprimitive(rtype: RType) -> bool:
     return isinstance(rtype, RPrimitive) and rtype.name == 'builtins.str'
 
 
+def is_bytes_rprimitive(rtype: RType) -> bool:
+    return isinstance(rtype, RPrimitive) and rtype.name == 'builtins.bytes'
+
+
 def is_tuple_rprimitive(rtype: RType) -> bool:
     return isinstance(rtype, RPrimitive) and rtype.name == 'builtins.tuple'
 
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py b/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
index 93c70e46038c..1697b40b1acb 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     c_pyssize_t_rprimitive, is_short_int_rprimitive, is_tagged, PyVarObject, short_int_rprimitive,
     is_list_rprimitive, is_tuple_rprimitive, is_dict_rprimitive, is_set_rprimitive, PySetObject,
     none_rprimitive, RTuple, is_bool_rprimitive, is_str_rprimitive, c_int_rprimitive,
-    pointer_rprimitive, PyObject, PyListObject, bit_rprimitive, is_bit_rprimitive
+    pointer_rprimitive, PyObject, PyListObject, bit_rprimitive, is_bit_rprimitive, bytes_rprimitive
 )
 from mypyc.ir.func_ir import FuncDecl, FuncSignature
 from mypyc.ir.class_ir import ClassIR, all_concrete_classes
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ def load_static_float(self, value: float) -> Value:
     def load_static_bytes(self, value: bytes) -> Value:
         """Loads a static bytes value into a register."""
         identifier = self.literal_static_name(value)
-        return self.add(LoadGlobal(object_rprimitive, identifier, ann=value))
+        return self.add(LoadGlobal(bytes_rprimitive, identifier, ann=value))
 
     def load_static_complex(self, value: complex) -> Value:
         """Loads a static complex value into a register."""
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/mapper.py b/mypyc/irbuild/mapper.py
index 364e650aa5dc..7fe48fd236d1 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/mapper.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/mapper.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from mypyc.ir.rtypes import (
     RType, RUnion, RTuple, RInstance, object_rprimitive, dict_rprimitive, tuple_rprimitive,
     none_rprimitive, int_rprimitive, float_rprimitive, str_rprimitive, bool_rprimitive,
-    list_rprimitive, set_rprimitive
+    list_rprimitive, set_rprimitive, bytes_rprimitive
 )
 from mypyc.ir.func_ir import FuncSignature, FuncDecl, RuntimeArg
 from mypyc.ir.class_ir import ClassIR
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ def type_to_rtype(self, typ: Optional[Type]) -> RType:
                 return bool_rprimitive
             elif typ.type.fullname == 'builtins.list':
                 return list_rprimitive
+            elif typ.type.fullname == 'builtins.bytes':
+                return bytes_rprimitive
             # Dict subclasses are at least somewhat common and we
             # specifically support them, so make sure that dict operations
             # get optimized on them.
diff --git a/mypyc/primitives/bytes_ops.py b/mypyc/primitives/bytes_ops.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5981284c9484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mypyc/primitives/bytes_ops.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+"""Primitive bytes ops."""
+
+from mypyc.ir.rtypes import object_rprimitive
+from mypyc.primitives.registry import load_address_op
+
+
+# Get the 'bytes' type object.
+load_address_op(
+    name='builtins.bytes',
+    type=object_rprimitive,
+    src='PyBytes_Type')
diff --git a/mypyc/primitives/registry.py b/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
index 454e7f1f6db4..25e807b563bb 100644
--- a/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
+++ b/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ def load_address_op(name: str,
 # Import various modules that set up global state.
 import mypyc.primitives.int_ops  # noqa
 import mypyc.primitives.str_ops  # noqa
+import mypyc.primitives.bytes_ops  # noqa
 import mypyc.primitives.list_ops  # noqa
 import mypyc.primitives.dict_ops  # noqa
 import mypyc.primitives.tuple_ops  # noqa
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/driver/driver.py b/mypyc/test-data/driver/driver.py
index 4db9843358f1..3268d8b7cd16 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/driver/driver.py
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/driver/driver.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
     def extract_line(tb):
         formatted = '\n'.join(format_tb(tb))
-        m = re.search('File "native.py", line ([0-9]+), in test_', formatted)
+        m = re.search('File "(native|driver).py", line ([0-9]+), in (test_|<module>)', formatted)
         return m.group(1)
 
     # Sort failures by line number of test function.
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/fixtures/ir.py b/mypyc/test-data/fixtures/ir.py
index 4ffefb7432de..f637ce08c437 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/fixtures/ir.py
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/fixtures/ir.py
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ def __mul__(self, n: complex) -> complex: pass
     def __truediv__(self, n: complex) -> complex: pass
 
 class bytes:
-    def __init__(self, x: object) -> None: pass
-    def __add__(self, x: object) -> bytes: pass
-    def __eq__(self, x:object) -> bool:pass
+    def __add__(self, x: bytes) -> bytes: pass
+    def __eq__(self, x: object) -> bool:pass
     def __ne__(self, x: object) -> bool: pass
+    def __getitem__(self, i: int) -> int: pass
     def join(self, x: Iterable[object]) -> bytes: pass
 
 class bool(int):
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-basic.test b/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-basic.test
index 0da337ce2d49..ab63eba6f78d 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-basic.test
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-basic.test
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ def f() -> bytes:
     return b'1234'
 [out]
 def f():
-    r0, x, r1 :: object
+    r0, x, r1 :: bytes
 L0:
     r0 = load_global CPyStatic_bytes_1 :: static  (b'\xf0')
     x = r0
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/run-bytes.test b/mypyc/test-data/run-bytes.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..51f16fe85519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/run-bytes.test
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Bytes test cases (compile and run)
+
+[case testBytesBasics]
+# Note: Add tests for additional operations to testBytesOps or in a new test case
+
+def f(x: bytes) -> bytes:
+    return x
+
+def eq(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bool:
+    return a == b
+
+def neq(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bool:
+    return a != b
+[file driver.py]
+from native import f, eq, neq
+assert f(b'123') == b'123'
+assert f(b'\x07 \x0b " \t \x7f \xf0') == b'\x07 \x0b " \t \x7f \xf0'
+assert eq(b'123', b'123')
+assert not eq(b'123', b'1234')
+assert neq(b'123', b'1234')
+try:
+    f('x')
+    assert False
+except TypeError:
+    pass
+
+[case testBytesOps]
+def test_indexing() -> None:
+    # Use bytes() to avoid constant folding
+    b = b'asdf' + bytes()
+    assert b[0] == 97
+    assert b[1] == 115
+    assert b[3] == 102
+    assert b[-1] == 102
+    b = b'\xfe\x15' + bytes()
+    assert b[0] == 254
+    assert b[1] == 21
+
+def test_concat() -> None:
+    b1 = b'123' + bytes()
+    b2 = b'456' + bytes()
+    assert b1 + b2 == b'123456'
+
+def test_join() -> None:
+    seq = (b'1', b'"', b'\xf0')
+    assert b'\x07'.join(seq) == b'1\x07"\x07\xf0'
+    assert b', '.join(()) == b''
+    assert b', '.join([bytes() + b'ab']) == b'ab'
+    assert b', '.join([bytes() + b'ab', b'cd']) == b'ab, cd'
+
+def test_len() -> None:
+    # Use bytes() to avoid constant folding
+    b = b'foo' + bytes()
+    assert len(b) == 3
+    assert len(bytes()) == 0
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/run-primitives.test b/mypyc/test-data/run-primitives.test
index 450480d3f0a6..37a92a15e0fc 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/run-primitives.test
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/run-primitives.test
@@ -255,32 +255,6 @@ assert str(to_int(3.14)) == '3'
 assert str(to_int(3)) == '3'
 assert get_complex() == 3+5j
 
-[case testBytes]
-def f(x: bytes) -> bytes:
-    return x
-
-def concat(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bytes:
-    return a + b
-
-def eq(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bool:
-    return a == b
-
-def neq(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bool:
-    return a != b
-
-def join() -> bytes:
-    seq = (b'1', b'"', b'\xf0')
-    return b'\x07'.join(seq)
-[file driver.py]
-from native import f, concat, eq, neq, join
-assert f(b'123') == b'123'
-assert f(b'\x07 \x0b " \t \x7f \xf0') == b'\x07 \x0b " \t \x7f \xf0'
-assert concat(b'123', b'456') == b'123456'
-assert eq(b'123', b'123')
-assert not eq(b'123', b'1234')
-assert neq(b'123', b'1234')
-assert join() == b'1\x07"\x07\xf0'
-
 [case testDel]
 from typing import List
 from testutil import assertRaises
diff --git a/mypyc/test/test_run.py b/mypyc/test/test_run.py
index 82a288e0d293..a080339dae8e 100644
--- a/mypyc/test/test_run.py
+++ b/mypyc/test/test_run.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
     'run-integers.test',
     'run-bools.test',
     'run-strings.test',
+    'run-bytes.test',
     'run-tuples.test',
     'run-lists.test',
     'run-dicts.test',