diff --git a/backends/smt2/smtio.py b/backends/smt2/smtio.py
index 68783e744..ab20a4af2 100644
--- a/backends/smt2/smtio.py
+++ b/backends/smt2/smtio.py
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ class SmtIo:
 
     def get_path(self, mod, path):
         assert mod in self.modinfo
-        path = path.split(".")
+        path = path.replace("\\", "/").split(".")
 
         for i in range(len(path)-1):
             first = ".".join(path[0:i+1])
diff --git a/backends/verilog/verilog_backend.cc b/backends/verilog/verilog_backend.cc
index a7f329ef8..66a9e70d3 100644
--- a/backends/verilog/verilog_backend.cc
+++ b/backends/verilog/verilog_backend.cc
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void dump_const(std::ostream &f, const RTLIL::Const &data, int width = -1, int o
 	}
 }
 
-void dump_reg_init(std::ostream &f, SigSpec sig)
+void dump_reg_init(std::ostream &f, SigSpec sig, bool write_equals = true)
 {
 	Const initval;
 	bool gotinit = false;
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ void dump_reg_init(std::ostream &f, SigSpec sig)
 	}
 
 	if (gotinit) {
-		f << " = ";
+		if (write_equals) f << " = ";
 		dump_const(f, initval);
 	}
 }
@@ -1247,7 +1247,14 @@ void dump_cell(std::ostream &f, std::string indent, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	dump_attributes(f, indent, cell->attributes);
 	f << stringf("%s" "%s", indent.c_str(), id(cell->type, false).c_str());
 
-	if (!defparam && cell->parameters.size() > 0) {
+	std::string init;
+	if (cell->name[0] == '$' && reg_ct.count(cell->type) && cell->hasPort("\\Q")) {
+		std::stringstream ss;
+		dump_reg_init(ss, cell->getPort("\\Q"), false /* write_equals */);
+		init = ss.str();
+	}
+
+	if (!defparam && (cell->parameters.size() > 0 || !init.empty())) {
 		f << stringf(" #(");
 		for (auto it = cell->parameters.begin(); it != cell->parameters.end(); ++it) {
 			if (it != cell->parameters.begin())
@@ -1257,6 +1264,11 @@ void dump_cell(std::ostream &f, std::string indent, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 			dump_const(f, it->second, -1, 0, false, is_signed);
 			f << stringf(")");
 		}
+		if (!init.empty()) {
+			if (!cell->parameters.empty())
+				f << stringf(",");
+			f << stringf("\n%s  .INIT(%s)", indent.c_str(), init.c_str());
+		}
 		f << stringf("\n%s" ")", indent.c_str());
 	}
 
@@ -1298,13 +1310,15 @@ void dump_cell(std::ostream &f, std::string indent, RTLIL::Cell *cell)
 	}
 	f << stringf("\n%s" ");\n", indent.c_str());
 
-	if (defparam && cell->parameters.size() > 0) {
+	if (defparam && (cell->parameters.size() > 0 || !init.empty())) {
 		for (auto it = cell->parameters.begin(); it != cell->parameters.end(); ++it) {
 			f << stringf("%sdefparam %s.%s = ", indent.c_str(), cell_name.c_str(), id(it->first).c_str());
 			bool is_signed = (it->second.flags & RTLIL::CONST_FLAG_SIGNED) != 0;
 			dump_const(f, it->second, -1, 0, false, is_signed);
 			f << stringf(";\n");
 		}
+		if (!init.empty())
+			f << stringf("%sdefparam %s.INIT = %s;\n", indent.c_str(), cell_name.c_str(), init.c_str());
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/techlibs/common/simcells.v b/techlibs/common/simcells.v
index 289673e82..b9957bd5e 100644
--- a/techlibs/common/simcells.v
+++ b/techlibs/common/simcells.v
@@ -451,8 +451,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 1 1 | y
 //-
 module \$_SR_NN_ (S, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input S, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -475,8 +476,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 1 0 | y
 //-
 module \$_SR_NP_ (S, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input S, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -499,8 +501,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 0 1 | y
 //-
 module \$_SR_PN_ (S, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input S, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -523,8 +526,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 0 0 | y
 //-
 module \$_SR_PP_ (S, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input S, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -542,8 +546,9 @@ endmodule
 //- type is usually only used in netlists for formal verification.)
 //-
 module \$_FF_ (D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @($global_clock) begin
 	Q <= D;
 end
@@ -562,8 +567,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_N_ (D, C, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C) begin
 	Q <= D;
 end
@@ -581,8 +587,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_P_ (D, C, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C) begin
 	Q <= D;
 end
@@ -600,8 +607,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFE_NN_ (D, C, E, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, E;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C) begin
 	if (!E) Q <= D;
 end
@@ -619,8 +627,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFE_NP_ (D, C, E, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, E;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C) begin
 	if (E) Q <= D;
 end
@@ -638,8 +647,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFE_PN_ (D, C, E, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, E;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C) begin
 	if (!E) Q <= D;
 end
@@ -657,8 +667,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFE_PP_ (D, C, E, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, E;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C) begin
 	if (E) Q <= D;
 end
@@ -677,8 +688,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_NN0_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C or negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -700,8 +712,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_NN1_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C or negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 1;
@@ -723,8 +736,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_NP0_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C or posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -746,8 +760,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_NP1_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C or posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 1;
@@ -769,8 +784,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_PN0_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C or negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -792,8 +808,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_PN1_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C or negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 1;
@@ -815,8 +832,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_PP0_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C or posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -838,8 +856,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFF_PP1_ (D, C, R, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input D, C, R;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C or posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 1;
@@ -862,8 +881,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_NNN_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C, negedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -889,8 +909,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_NNP_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C, negedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -916,8 +937,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_NPN_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C, posedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -942,8 +964,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_NPP_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(negedge C, posedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -968,8 +991,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_PNN_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C, negedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -995,8 +1019,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_PNP_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C, negedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1022,8 +1047,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_PPN_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C, posedge S, negedge R) begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1048,8 +1074,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DFFSR_PPP_ (C, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input C, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @(posedge C, posedge S, posedge R) begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1072,8 +1099,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCH_N_ (E, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (E == 0)
 		Q <= D;
@@ -1092,8 +1120,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCH_P_ (E, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (E == 1)
 		Q <= D;
@@ -1114,8 +1143,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_NNN_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1141,8 +1171,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_NNP_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1168,8 +1199,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_NPN_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1194,8 +1226,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_NPP_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1220,8 +1253,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_PNN_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1247,8 +1281,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_PNP_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1274,8 +1309,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_PPN_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 0)
 		Q <= 0;
@@ -1300,8 +1336,9 @@ endmodule
 //-                 - - - - | q
 //-
 module \$_DLATCHSR_PPP_ (E, S, R, D, Q);
+parameter INIT = 1'bx;
 input E, S, R, D;
-output reg Q;
+output reg Q = INIT;
 always @* begin
 	if (R == 1)
 		Q <= 0;
diff --git a/techlibs/common/simlib.v b/techlibs/common/simlib.v
index 8e43fe058..9b6008140 100644
--- a/techlibs/common/simlib.v
+++ b/techlibs/common/simlib.v
@@ -1464,10 +1464,11 @@ module \$dff (CLK, D, Q);
 
 parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter CLK_POLARITY = 1'b1;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input CLK;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 wire pos_clk = CLK == CLK_POLARITY;
 
 always @(posedge pos_clk) begin
@@ -1483,10 +1484,11 @@ module \$dffe (CLK, EN, D, Q);
 parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter CLK_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter EN_POLARITY = 1'b1;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input CLK, EN;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 wire pos_clk = CLK == CLK_POLARITY;
 
 always @(posedge pos_clk) begin
@@ -1504,10 +1506,11 @@ parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter CLK_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter SET_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter CLR_POLARITY = 1'b1;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input CLK;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] SET, CLR, D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 
 wire pos_clk = CLK == CLK_POLARITY;
 wire [WIDTH-1:0] pos_set = SET_POLARITY ? SET : ~SET;
@@ -1537,10 +1540,11 @@ parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter CLK_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter ARST_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter ARST_VALUE = 0;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input CLK, ARST;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 wire pos_clk = CLK == CLK_POLARITY;
 wire pos_arst = ARST == ARST_POLARITY;
 
@@ -1559,10 +1563,11 @@ module \$dlatch (EN, D, Q);
 
 parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter EN_POLARITY = 1'b1;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input EN;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 
 always @* begin
 	if (EN == EN_POLARITY)
@@ -1580,10 +1585,11 @@ parameter WIDTH = 0;
 parameter EN_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter SET_POLARITY = 1'b1;
 parameter CLR_POLARITY = 1'b1;
+parameter INIT = {WIDTH{1'bx}};
 
 input EN;
 input [WIDTH-1:0] SET, CLR, D;
-output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q;
+output reg [WIDTH-1:0] Q = INIT;
 
 wire pos_en = EN == EN_POLARITY;
 wire [WIDTH-1:0] pos_set = SET_POLARITY ? SET : ~SET;
diff --git a/tests/simple/dff_init.v b/tests/simple/dff_init.v
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be947042e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/simple/dff_init.v
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+module dff0_test(n1, n1_inv, clk);
+  input clk;
+  output n1;
+  reg n1 = 32'd0;
+  output n1_inv;
+  always @(posedge clk)
+      n1 <= n1_inv;
+  assign n1_inv = ~n1;
+endmodule
+
+module dff1_test(n1, n1_inv, clk);
+  input clk;
+  (* init = 32'd1 *)
+  output n1;
+  reg n1 = 32'd1;
+  output n1_inv;
+  always @(posedge clk)
+      n1 <= n1_inv;
+  assign n1_inv = ~n1;
+endmodule
+
+module dff0a_test(n1, n1_inv, clk);
+  input clk;
+  (* init = 32'd0 *) // Must be consistent with reg initialiser below
+  output n1;
+  reg n1 = 32'd0;
+  output n1_inv;
+  always @(posedge clk)
+      n1 <= n1_inv;
+  assign n1_inv = ~n1;
+endmodule
+
+module dff1a_test(n1, n1_inv, clk);
+  input clk;
+  (* init = 32'd1 *) // Must be consistent with reg initialiser below
+  output n1;
+  reg n1 = 32'd1;
+  output n1_inv;
+  always @(posedge clk)
+      n1 <= n1_inv;
+  assign n1_inv = ~n1;
+endmodule
diff --git a/tests/simple_defparam/run-test.sh b/tests/simple_defparam/run-test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..137e15076
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/simple_defparam/run-test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+OPTIND=1
+seed=""    # default to no seed specified
+while getopts "S:" opt
+do
+    case "$opt" in
+	S) arg="${OPTARG#"${OPTARG%%[![:space:]]*}"}" # remove leading space
+	   seed="SEED=$arg" ;;
+    esac
+done
+shift "$((OPTIND-1))"
+
+# check for Icarus Verilog
+if ! which iverilog > /dev/null ; then
+  echo "$0: Error: Icarus Verilog 'iverilog' not found."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cp ../simple/*.v .
+exec ${MAKE:-make} -f ../tools/autotest.mk $seed *.v EXTRA_FLAGS="-B \"-defparam\""
diff --git a/tests/tools/autotest.sh b/tests/tools/autotest.sh
index 3bce003e1..3e1325b33 100755
--- a/tests/tools/autotest.sh
+++ b/tests/tools/autotest.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ if [ ! -f $toolsdir/cmp_tbdata -o $toolsdir/cmp_tbdata.c -nt $toolsdir/cmp_tbdat
 	( set -ex; ${CC:-gcc} -Wall -o $toolsdir/cmp_tbdata $toolsdir/cmp_tbdata.c; ) || exit 1
 fi
 
-while getopts xmGl:wkjvref:s:p:n:S:I: opt; do
+while getopts xmGl:wkjvref:s:p:n:S:I:B: opt; do
 	case "$opt" in
 		x)
 			use_xsim=true ;;
@@ -59,8 +59,10 @@ while getopts xmGl:wkjvref:s:p:n:S:I: opt; do
 			include_opts="$include_opts -I $OPTARG"
 			xinclude_opts="$xinclude_opts -i $OPTARG"
 			minclude_opts="$minclude_opts +incdir+$OPTARG" ;;
+        B)
+			backend_opts="$backend_opts $OPTARG" ;;
 		*)
-			echo "Usage: $0 [-x|-m] [-G] [-w] [-k] [-j] [-v] [-r] [-e] [-l libs] [-f frontend] [-s script] [-p cmdstring] [-n iters] [-S seed] [-I incdir] verilog-files\n" >&2
+			echo "Usage: $0 [-x|-m] [-G] [-w] [-k] [-j] [-v] [-r] [-e] [-l libs] [-f frontend] [-s script] [-p cmdstring] [-n iters] [-S seed] [-I incdir] [-B backend_opt] verilog-files\n" >&2
 			exit 1
 	esac
 done