diff --git a/compiler/importer.nim b/compiler/importer.nim
index d619725db0..657f41eabe 100644
--- a/compiler/importer.nim
+++ b/compiler/importer.nim
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ proc importAllSymbolsExcept(c: PContext, fromMod: PSym, exceptSet: IntSet) =
       if s.kind != skEnumField:
         if s.kind notin ExportableSymKinds:
           internalError(s.info, "importAllSymbols: " & $s.kind)
-        if exceptSet.empty or s.name.id notin exceptSet:
+        if s.name.id notin exceptSet:
           rawImportSymbol(c, s)
     s = nextIter(i, fromMod.tab)
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ proc importForwarded(c: PContext, n: PNode, exceptSet: IntSet) =
       let s = a.sym
       if s.kind == skModule:
         importAllSymbolsExcept(c, s, exceptSet)
-      elif exceptSet.empty or s.name.id notin exceptSet:
+      elif s.name.id notin exceptSet:
         rawImportSymbol(c, s)
   of nkExportExceptStmt:
     localError(n.info, errGenerated, "'export except' not implemented")
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/critbits.nim b/lib/pure/collections/critbits.nim
index 09b20fd450..bd7e083bec 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/critbits.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/critbits.nim
@@ -140,20 +140,31 @@ proc `[]=`*[T](c: var CritBitTree[T], key: string, val: T) =
   var n = rawInsert(c, key)
   n.val = val
 
-proc `[]`*[T](c: CritBitTree[T], key: string): T {.inline.} =
-  ## retrieves the value at ``c[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`,
-  ## default empty value for the type `B` is returned
-  ## and no exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
+template get[T](c: CritBitTree[T], key: string): T {.immediate.} =
   let n = rawGet(c, key)
   if n != nil: result = n.val
+  else:
+    when compiles($key):
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+    else:
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found")
 
-proc mget*[T](c: var CritBitTree[T], key: string): var T {.inline.} =
+proc `[]`*[T](c: CritBitTree[T], key: string): T {.inline.} =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``c[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
+  get(c, key)
+
+proc `[]`*[T](c: var CritBitTree[T], key: string): var T {.inline.} =
   ## retrieves the value at ``c[key]``. The value can be modified.
   ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
-  let n = rawGet(c, key)
-  if n != nil: result = n.val
-  else: raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+  get(c, key)
+
+proc mget*[T](c: var CritBitTree[T], key: string): var T {.inline, deprecated.} =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``c[key]``. The value can be modified.
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  ## Use ```[]``` instead.
+  get(c, key)
 
 proc excl*[T](c: var CritBitTree[T], key: string) =
   ## removes `key` (and its associated value) from the set `c`.
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim b/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
index 3d4de8fdc9..2195a2442c 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/sets.nim
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ proc rawGetKnownHC[A](s: HashSet[A], key: A, hc: Hash): int {.inline.} =
 proc rawGet[A](s: HashSet[A], key: A, hc: var Hash): int {.inline.} =
   rawGetImpl()
 
-proc mget*[A](s: var HashSet[A], key: A): var A =
+proc `[]`*[A](s: var HashSet[A], key: A): var A =
   ## returns the element that is actually stored in 's' which has the same
   ## value as 'key' or raises the ``EInvalidKey`` exception. This is useful
   ## when one overloaded 'hash' and '==' but still needs reference semantics
@@ -165,6 +165,13 @@ proc mget*[A](s: var HashSet[A], key: A): var A =
   if index >= 0: result = s.data[index].key
   else: raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
 
+proc mget*[A](s: var HashSet[A], key: A): var A {.deprecated.} =
+  ## returns the element that is actually stored in 's' which has the same
+  ## value as 'key' or raises the ``EInvalidKey`` exception. This is useful
+  ## when one overloaded 'hash' and '==' but still needs reference semantics
+  ## for sharing. Use ```[]``` instead.
+  s[key]
+
 proc contains*[A](s: HashSet[A], key: A): bool =
   ## Returns true iff `key` is in `s`.
   ##
diff --git a/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim b/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
index be6b755ed2..bb64406527 100644
--- a/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/collections/tables.nim
@@ -117,6 +117,23 @@ proc mget*[A, B](t: var Table[A, B], key: A): var B =
     else:
       raise newException(KeyError, "key not found")
 
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: Table[A, B], key: A): B =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
+  get(t, key)
+
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: var Table[A, B], key: A): var B =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  get(t, key)
+
+proc mget*[A, B](t: var Table[A, B], key: A): var B {.deprecated.} =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised. Use ```[]```
+  ## instead.
+  get(t, key)
+
 iterator allValues*[A, B](t: Table[A, B]; key: A): B =
   ## iterates over any value in the table `t` that belongs to the given `key`.
   var h: Hash = hash(key) and high(t.data)
@@ -276,17 +293,17 @@ iterator mvalues*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B]): var B =
   for h in 0..high(t.data):
     if isFilled(t.data[h].hcode): yield t.data[h].val
 
-proc `[]`*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B], key: A): B =
-  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`,
-  ## default empty value for the type `B` is returned
-  ## and no exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B], key: A): var B =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``.  If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
   result = t[][key]
 
-proc mget*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B], key: A): var B =
+proc mget*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B], key: A): var B {.deprecated.} =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
-  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``EInvalidKey`` exception is raised.
-  t[].mget(key)
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  ## Use ```[]``` instead.
+  t[][key]
 
 proc mgetOrPut*[A, B](t: TableRef[A, B], key: A, val: B): var B =
   ## retrieves value at ``t[key]`` or puts ``val`` if not present, either way
@@ -407,8 +424,19 @@ proc `[]`*[A, B](t: OrderedTable[A, B], key: A): B =
   var hc: Hash
   var index = rawGet(t, key, hc)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
+  else:
+    when compiles($key):
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+    else:
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found")
 
-proc mget*[A, B](t: var OrderedTable[A, B], key: A): var B =
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: OrderedTable[A, B], key: A): B =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
+  get(t, key)
+
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: var OrderedTable[A, B], key: A): var B =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
   ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``EInvalidKey`` exception is raised.
   var hc: Hash
@@ -572,17 +600,17 @@ iterator mvalues*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B]): var B =
   forAllOrderedPairs:
     yield t.data[h].val
 
-proc `[]`*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B], key: A): B =
-  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`,
-  ## default empty value for the type `B` is returned
-  ## and no exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
+proc `[]`*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B], key: A): var B =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
   result = t[][key]
 
-proc mget*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B], key: A): var B =
+proc mget*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B], key: A): var B {.deprecated.} =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
-  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``EInvalidKey`` exception is raised.
-  result = t[].mget(key)
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  ## Use ```[]``` instead.
+  result = t[][key]
 
 proc mgetOrPut*[A, B](t: OrderedTableRef[A, B], key: A, val: B): var B =
   ## retrieves value at ``t[key]`` or puts ``val`` if not present, either way
@@ -683,19 +711,31 @@ proc rawGet[A](t: CountTable[A], key: A): int =
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = -1 - h                   # < 0 => MISSING; insert idx = -1 - result
 
+template get[A](t: CountTable[A], key: A): int {.immediate.} =
+  var index = rawGet(t, key)
+  if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
+  else:
+    when compiles($key):
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+    else:
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found")
+
 proc `[]`*[A](t: CountTable[A], key: A): int =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`,
-  ## 0 is returned. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
-  var index = rawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
+  ## the ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey``
+  ## whether the key exists.
+  get(t, key)
 
-proc mget*[A](t: var CountTable[A], key: A): var int =
+proc `[]`*[A](t: var CountTable[A], key: A): var int =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
-  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``EInvalidKey`` exception is raised.
-  var index = rawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
-  else: raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  get(t, key)
+
+proc mget*[A](t: var CountTable[A], key: A): var int {.deprecated.} =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  ## Use ```[]``` instead.
+  get(t, key)
 
 proc hasKey*[A](t: CountTable[A], key: A): bool =
   ## returns true iff `key` is in the table `t`.
@@ -831,16 +871,16 @@ iterator mvalues*[A](t: CountTableRef[A]): var int =
   for h in 0..high(t.data):
     if t.data[h].val != 0: yield t.data[h].val
 
-proc `[]`*[A](t: CountTableRef[A], key: A): int =
-  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`,
-  ## 0 is returned. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
+proc `[]`*[A](t: CountTableRef[A], key: A): var int =
+  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
   result = t[][key]
 
-proc mget*[A](t: CountTableRef[A], key: A): var int =
+proc mget*[A](t: CountTableRef[A], key: A): var int {.deprecated.} =
   ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. The value can be modified.
-  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``EInvalidKey`` exception is raised.
-  result = t[].mget(key)
+  ## If `key` is not in `t`, the ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
+  ## Use ```[]``` instead.
+  result = t[][key]
 
 proc hasKey*[A](t: CountTableRef[A], key: A): bool =
   ## returns true iff `key` is in the table `t`.
diff --git a/lib/pure/strtabs.nim b/lib/pure/strtabs.nim
index 1ce9067a78..2127c7f10c 100644
--- a/lib/pure/strtabs.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/strtabs.nim
@@ -101,21 +101,26 @@ proc rawGet(t: StringTableRef, key: string): int =
     h = nextTry(h, high(t.data))
   result = - 1
 
-proc `[]`*(t: StringTableRef, key: string): string {.rtl, extern: "nstGet".} =
-  ## retrieves the value at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, "" is returned
-  ## and no exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether the key
-  ## exists.
+template get(t: StringTableRef, key: string): stmt {.immediate.} =
   var index = rawGet(t, key)
   if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
-  else: result = ""
+  else:
+    when compiles($key):
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found: " & $key)
+    else:
+      raise newException(KeyError, "key not found")
 
-proc mget*(t: StringTableRef, key: string): var string {.
-             rtl, extern: "nstTake".} =
+proc `[]`*(t: StringTableRef, key: string): var string {.
+           rtl, extern: "nstTake".} =
   ## retrieves the location at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
-  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised.
-  var index = rawGet(t, key)
-  if index >= 0: result = t.data[index].val
-  else: raise newException(KeyError, "key does not exist: " & key)
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. One can check with ``hasKey`` whether
+  ## the key exists.
+  get(t, key)
+
+proc mget*(t: StringTableRef, key: string): var string {.deprecated.} =
+  ## retrieves the location at ``t[key]``. If `key` is not in `t`, the
+  ## ``KeyError`` exception is raised. Use ```[]``` instead.
+  get(t, key)
 
 proc hasKey*(t: StringTableRef, key: string): bool {.rtl, extern: "nst$1".} =
   ## returns true iff `key` is in the table `t`.
@@ -248,7 +253,7 @@ when isMainModule:
   assert x["k"] == "v"
   assert x["11"] == "22"
   assert x["565"] == "67"
-  x.mget("11") = "23"
+  x["11"] = "23"
   assert x["11"] == "23"
 
   x.clear(modeCaseInsensitive)
diff --git a/lib/pure/xmltree.nim b/lib/pure/xmltree.nim
index 7c97a0a564..c60da0239c 100644
--- a/lib/pure/xmltree.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/xmltree.nim
@@ -139,11 +139,16 @@ proc delete*(n: XmlNode, i: Natural) {.noSideEffect.} =
   assert n.k == xnElement
   n.s.delete(i)
 
-proc mget* (n: var XmlNode, i: int): var XmlNode {.inline.} =
+proc `[]`* (n: var XmlNode, i: int): var XmlNode {.inline.} =
   ## returns the `i`'th child of `n` so that it can be modified
   assert n.k == xnElement
   result = n.s[i]
 
+proc mget* (n: var XmlNode, i: int): var XmlNode {.inline, deprecated.} =
+  ## returns the `i`'th child of `n` so that it can be modified. Use ```[]```
+  ## instead.
+  n[i]
+
 iterator items*(n: XmlNode): XmlNode {.inline.} =
   ## iterates over any child of `n`.
   assert n.k == xnElement
@@ -152,7 +157,7 @@ iterator items*(n: XmlNode): XmlNode {.inline.} =
 iterator mitems*(n: var XmlNode): var XmlNode {.inline.} =
   ## iterates over any child of `n`.
   assert n.k == xnElement
-  for i in 0 .. n.len-1: yield mget(n, i)
+  for i in 0 .. n.len-1: yield n[i]
 
 proc attrs*(n: XmlNode): XmlAttributes {.inline.} =
   ## gets the attributes belonging to `n`.
diff --git a/tests/actiontable/tactiontable.nim b/tests/actiontable/tactiontable.nim
index 18b0fd388d..4560d0f7f6 100644
--- a/tests/actiontable/tactiontable.nim
+++ b/tests/actiontable/tactiontable.nim
@@ -24,4 +24,3 @@ var
     "D": action4}.toTable
 
 actionTable["C"]("arg")
-
diff --git a/tests/collections/ttables.nim b/tests/collections/ttables.nim
index a106068436..a8a182a789 100644
--- a/tests/collections/ttables.nim
+++ b/tests/collections/ttables.nim
@@ -60,8 +60,12 @@ block tableTest2:
   t["123"] = 1.5 # test overwriting
 
   assert t["123"] == 1.5
-  assert t["111"] == 0.0 # deleted
+  try:
+    echo t["111"] # deleted
+  except KeyError:
+    discard
   assert(not hasKey(t, "111"))
+
   assert "123" in t
   assert("111" notin t)
 
diff --git a/tests/collections/ttablesref.nim b/tests/collections/ttablesref.nim
index 0b641ebc74..32494f1f28 100644
--- a/tests/collections/ttablesref.nim
+++ b/tests/collections/ttablesref.nim
@@ -60,8 +60,10 @@ block tableTest2:
   t["123"] = 1.5 # test overwriting
 
   assert t["123"] == 1.5
-  assert t["111"] == 0.0 # deleted
-  assert "123" in t
+  try:
+    echo t["111"] # deleted
+  except KeyError:
+    discard
   assert(not hasKey(t, "111"))
   assert "111" notin t
 
diff --git a/tests/misc/teventemitter.nim b/tests/misc/teventemitter.nim
index 32cc81be4d..7da1a2522d 100644
--- a/tests/misc/teventemitter.nim
+++ b/tests/misc/teventemitter.nim
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ proc on*(emitter: var EventEmitter, event: string,
   if not hasKey(emitter.events, event):
     var list: DoublyLinkedList[proc(e: EventArgs) {.nimcall.}]
     add(emitter.events, event, list) #if not, add it.
-  append(emitter.events.mget(event), fn)
+  append(emitter.events[event], fn)
 
 proc initEmitter(emitter: var EventEmitter) =
   emitter.events = initTable[string,
@@ -30,4 +30,3 @@ var
 initEmitter(ee)
 ee.on("print", proc(e: EventArgs) = echo("pie"))
 ee.emit("print", args)
-
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tmget.nim b/tests/stdlib/tmget.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5792b62827
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tmget.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+5
+Can't access 6
+10
+11
+Can't access 6
+10
+11'''
+"""
+
+import tables
+
+block:
+  var x = initTable[int, int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+block:
+  var x = newTable[int, int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+block:
+  var x = initOrderedTable[int, int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+block:
+  var x = newOrderedTable[int, int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+block:
+  var x = initCountTable[int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+block:
+  var x = newCountTable[int]()
+  x[5] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+  x[5] += 1
+  var c = x[5]
+  echo c
+
+import sets
+
+block:
+  var x = initSet[int]()
+  x.incl 5
+  try:
+    echo x[6]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x[5]
+
+import critbits
+
+block:
+  var x: CritBitTree[int]
+  x["5"] = 10
+  try:
+    echo x["6"]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x["5"]
+  x["5"] += 1
+  var c = x["5"]
+  echo c
+
+import strtabs
+
+block:
+  var x = newStringTable()
+  x["5"] = "10"
+  try:
+    echo x["6"]
+  except KeyError:
+    echo "Can't access 6"
+  echo x["5"]
+  x["5"][1] = '1'
+  var c = x["5"]
+  echo c
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tmitems.nim b/tests/stdlib/tmitems.nim
index 544ad03345..27ff344e55 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tmitems.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tmitems.nim
@@ -132,5 +132,5 @@ block:
   </Students>""")
   for x in d.mitems:
     x = <>Student(Name=x.attrs["Name"] & "foo")
-  d.mget(1).attrs["Name"] = "bar"
+  d[1].attrs["Name"] = "bar"
   echo d