diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 98a6ba3fdde..69dd7709531 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,6 +164,37 @@ cd /src/mlir-npcomp
 cmake --build /build/npcomp --target check-npcomp check-frontends-pytorch
 ```
 
+### IREE Backend (from IREE packages)
+
+```shell
+# We currently track and require the latest snapshot.
+pip3 install iree-compiler-snapshot iree-runtime-snapshot -f https://github.com/google/iree/releases
+
+
+
+# Run TorchScript E2E tests targeting IREE.
+# Make sure to run "PyTorch Frontend" setup instructions first.
+python frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py --config=iree
+```
+
+### IREE Backend (from local IREE build)
+
+This configuration is useful for iterating locally, as you can
+poke/debug/rebuild things in IREE.
+
+```shell
+# Locally build IREE.
+# See https://google.github.io/iree/building-from-source/getting-started/
+# Make sure IREE is configured with `-DIREE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS=ON`.
+
+echo 'PYTHONPATH="${PYTHONPATH}:/path/to/iree-build/bindings/python"' >> .env
+
+# Run TorchScript E2E tests targeting IREE.
+# Make sure to run "PyTorch Frontend" setup instructions first.
+python frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py --config=iree
+```
+
+
 ### VSCode with a Docker Dev Image
 
 #### Start a docker dev container based on our image
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py b/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py
index 97a94290c06..6bf3fa248cd 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/main.py
@@ -12,31 +12,39 @@
 
 # Available test configs.
 from torch_mlir.torchscript.e2e_test.configs import (
-    RefBackendTestConfig, NativeTorchTestConfig, TorchScriptTestConfig
+    NpcompBackendTestConfig, NativeTorchTestConfig, TorchScriptTestConfig
 )
 
+from npcomp.compiler.pytorch.backend import is_iree_enabled
+IREE_ENABLED = is_iree_enabled()
+if IREE_ENABLED:
+    from npcomp.compiler.pytorch.backend.iree import IreeNpcompBackend
+from npcomp.compiler.pytorch.backend.refjit import RefjitNpcompBackend
+
+from .xfail_sets import XFAIL_SETS
+
 # Import tests to register them in the global registry.
-# TODO: Use a relative import.
-# That requires invoking this file as a "package" though, which makes it
-# not possible to just do `python main.py`. Instead, it requires something
-# like `python -m tochscript.main` which is annoying because it can only
-# be run from a specific directory.
-# TODO: Find out best practices for python "main" files.
-import basic
-import vision_models
-import mlp
-import batchnorm
-import quantized_models
-import elementwise
+# Make sure to use `tools/torchscript_e2e_test.sh` wrapper for invoking
+# this script.
+from . import basic
+from . import vision_models
+from . import mlp
+from . import batchnorm
+from . import quantized_models
+from . import elementwise
 
 def _get_argparse():
+    config_choices = ['native_torch', 'torchscript', 'refbackend']
+    if IREE_ENABLED:
+        config_choices += ['iree']
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Run torchscript e2e tests.')
     parser.add_argument('--config',
-        choices=['native_torch', 'torchscript', 'refbackend'],
+        choices=config_choices,
         default='refbackend',
-        help='''
+        help=f'''
 Meaning of options:
 "refbackend": run through npcomp's RefBackend.
+"iree"{'' if IREE_ENABLED else '(disabled)'}: run through npcomp's IREE backend.
 "native_torch": run the torch.nn.Module as-is without compiling (useful for verifying model is deterministic; ALL tests should pass in this configuration).
 "torchscript": compile the model to a torch.jit.ScriptModule, and then run that as-is (useful for verifying TorchScript is modeling the program correctly).
 ''')
@@ -54,7 +62,9 @@ def main():
 
     # Find the selected config.
     if args.config == 'refbackend':
-        config = RefBackendTestConfig()
+        config = NpcompBackendTestConfig(RefjitNpcompBackend())
+    elif args.config == 'iree':
+        config = NpcompBackendTestConfig(IreeNpcompBackend())
     elif args.config == 'native_torch':
         config = NativeTorchTestConfig()
     elif args.config == 'torchscript':
@@ -78,7 +88,8 @@ def main():
     results = run_tests(tests, config)
 
     # Report the test results.
-    report_results(results, args.verbose)
+    failed = report_results(results, XFAIL_SETS[args.config], args.verbose)
+    sys.exit(1 if failed else 0)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/xfail_sets.py b/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/xfail_sets.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4ce42781461
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/e2e_testing/torchscript/xfail_sets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#  Part of the LLVM Project, under the Apache License v2.0 with LLVM Exceptions.
+#  See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
+#  SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
+
+# This file describes the sets of tests expected to fail for each config.
+# This information is deliberately kept in a side table, rather than
+# in-situ on the test, as a deliberate layering decision: tests should
+# have unique keys to identify them and enable side tables of various kinds
+# (this includes down into lower parts of the stack, where a side table
+# might be used to keep more elaborate sets of testing configurations).
+
+XFAIL_SETS = {}
+
+# Lists of tests that fail to even reach the backends.
+# These represent further work needed in npcomp to lower them properly
+# to the backend contract.
+_common_npcomp_lowering_xfails = {
+    'ResNet18Module_basic',
+    'QuantizedMLP_basic',
+}
+
+XFAIL_SETS['refbackend'] = _common_npcomp_lowering_xfails
+
+XFAIL_SETS['iree'] = _common_npcomp_lowering_xfails | {
+    # https://github.com/google/iree/issues/6368
+    'MmDagModule_basic',
+    'Mlp1LayerModule_basic',
+    'Mlp2LayerModule_basic',
+}
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/cos_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/cos_e2e.py
index 848dcbfe447..455f8191210 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/cos_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/cos_e2e.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
   result = torch.cos(input)
   f.returns([result])
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 jit_module = backend.load(backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_module(mb.module)))
 
 logging.debug(f"Executing jit_module.cos")
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/div_inplace_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/div_inplace_e2e.py
index 4e9513d474f..44e0e254c6f 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/div_inplace_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/div_inplace_e2e.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def fun(a, b):
 with mb.capture_function("test", [arg0, arg1]) as f:
   f.returns([fun(arg0, arg1)])
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 jit_module = backend.load(backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_module(mb.module)))
 
 test_utils.compare_outputs(torch.mm, jit_module.test, arg0, arg1)
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/mm_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/mm_e2e.py
index 433373bb00c..ac0956a98e5 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/mm_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/mm_e2e.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
   result = torch.mm(lhs, rhs)
   f.returns([result])
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 jit_module = backend.load(backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_module(mb.module)))
 
 test_utils.compare_outputs(torch.mm, jit_module.mm, lhs, rhs)
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/mul_maximum_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/mul_maximum_e2e.py
index 4f23f9cc45c..58f06e69ba2 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/mul_maximum_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/mul_maximum_e2e.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def mul_maximum(lhs, rhs, threshold, bias):
   result = mul_maximum(lhs, rhs, threshold, bias)
   f.returns([result])
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 jit_module = backend.load(backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_module(mb.module)))
 
 test_utils.compare_outputs(mul_maximum, jit_module.mul_maximum, lhs, rhs,
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/tanh_out_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/tanh_out_e2e.py
index 064deebd657..15837521753 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/tanh_out_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/tanh_out_e2e.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def fun(a):
 with mb.capture_function("test", [arg0]) as f:
   f.returns([fun(arg0)])
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 jit_module = backend.load(backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_module(mb.module)))
 
 test_utils.compare_outputs(torch.mm, jit_module.test, arg0, arg1)
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_mm_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_mm_e2e.py
index fd7fb106c08..6ed576f0256 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_mm_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_mm_e2e.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def forward(self, lhs, rhs):
 mb.import_module(recursivescriptmodule._c, class_annotator)
 #mb.module.operation.print()
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 compiled = backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_object_graph(mb.module))
 jit_module = backend.load(compiled)
 
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e.py
index 21b28934aa1..964765bb666 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def forward(self, x):
 mb.import_module(recursivescriptmodule._c, class_annotator)
 #mb.module.operation.print()
 
-backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 compiled = backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_object_graph(mb.module))
 jit_module = backend.load(compiled)
 
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e_iree.py b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e_iree.py
index 71ab71ddffd..9d2863307df 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e_iree.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/examples/torchscript_tanh_e2e_iree.py
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ def forward(self, x):
 class_annotator.exportPath(recursivescriptmodule._c._type(), ['forward'])
 class_annotator.annotateArgs(recursivescriptmodule._c._type(), ['forward'], [
     None,
-    ([2, 3, -1], torch.float32)
+    ([2, 3, -1], torch.float32, True)
 ])
 # TODO: Automatically handle unpacking Python class RecursiveScriptModule into the underlying ScriptModule.
 mb.import_module(recursivescriptmodule._c, class_annotator)
 #mb.module.operation.print()
 
-backend = iree.CompilerBackend()
+backend = iree.IreeNpcompBackend()
 compiled = backend.compile(frontend_lowering.lower_object_graph(mb.module))
 jit_module = backend.load(compiled)
 
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/__init__.py b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/__init__.py
index 935aca84a62..44f85c719d8 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/__init__.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/__init__.py
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 #  See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
 #  SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
 
-from .ref_backend import RefBackendTestConfig
+from .npcomp_backend import NpcompBackendTestConfig
 from .native_torch import NativeTorchTestConfig
 from .torchscript import TorchScriptTestConfig
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/ref_backend.py b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/npcomp_backend.py
similarity index 64%
rename from frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/ref_backend.py
rename to frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/npcomp_backend.py
index 9e19d5f48fa..09759b66c71 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/ref_backend.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/configs/npcomp_backend.py
@@ -14,15 +14,32 @@
 
 import torch_mlir
 from npcomp.compiler.pytorch.backend import refjit
+from npcomp.compiler.pytorch.backend.abc import NpcompBackend
 from torch_mlir.torchscript.e2e_test.framework import TestConfig, Trace, TraceItem
 from torch_mlir.torchscript.annotations import extract_annotations
 
+class PrettyErrorReportForIrOperation(object):
+    def __init__(self, module, module_name_for_ir_dump: str):
+        sys.stderr = StringIO()
+        self.filename_for_ir_dump = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(),
+                                module_name_for_ir_dump + '.mlir')
+        self.asm_for_error_report = module.get_asm(
+            large_elements_limit=10, enable_debug_info=True)
+    def __enter__(self):
+        pass
+    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
+        with open(self.filename_for_ir_dump, 'w') as f:
+            f.write(self.asm_for_error_report)
 
-class RefBackendTestConfig(TestConfig):
-    """TestConfig that just runs the torch.nn.Module through RefBackend."""
-    def __init__(self):
+class NpcompBackendTestConfig(TestConfig):
+    """Base class for TestConfig's that are implemented with npcomp.
+
+    This class handles all the common lowering that npcomp does before reaching
+    its backends.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, backend: NpcompBackend):
         super().__init__()
-        self.backend = refjit.CompilerBackend()
+        self.backend = backend
 
     def compile(self, program: torch.nn.Module) -> Any:
         mb = torch_mlir.ModuleBuilder()
@@ -79,14 +96,36 @@ def compile(self, program: torch.nn.Module) -> Any:
 """) from None
         finally:
             sys.stderr = sys.__stderr__
-        return self.backend.compile(mb.module)
+        try:
+            sys.stderr = StringIO()
+            asm_for_error_report = mb.module.operation.get_asm(
+                large_elements_limit=10, enable_debug_info=True)
+            return self.backend.compile(mb.module)
+        except Exception as e:
+            filename = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(),
+                                    scripted.original_name + '.mlir')
+            with open(filename, 'w') as f:
+                f.write(asm_for_error_report)
+            raise Exception(f"""
+NPCOMP Backend lowering for {self.backend.__class__.__name__} failed with the following diagnostics:
+## Exception:
+{e}
+
+## Stderr:
+{sys.stderr.getvalue()}
+
+## Input IR has been saved in {filename}
+""") from None
+        finally:
+            sys.stderr = sys.__stderr__
+
 
     def run(self, artifact: Any, trace: Trace) -> Trace:
-        jit_module = self.backend.load(artifact)
+        backend_module = self.backend.load(artifact)
         result: Trace = []
         for item in trace:
             numpy_inputs = [t.numpy() for t in item.inputs]
-            outputs = getattr(jit_module, item.symbol)(*numpy_inputs)
+            outputs = getattr(backend_module, item.symbol)(*numpy_inputs)
             if isinstance(outputs, np.ndarray):
                 outputs = [outputs]
             torch_outputs = [torch.tensor(ndarray) for ndarray in outputs]
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/reporting.py b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/reporting.py
index 1301f33c759..5934f56d4ba 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/reporting.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/python/torch_mlir/torchscript/e2e_test/reporting.py
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 Utilities for reporting the results of the test framework.
 """
 
-from typing import List, Optional
+from typing import List, Optional, Set
 
+import collections
 import io
 import textwrap
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ def error_str(self):
         assert self.failed
         if self.value.size() != self.golden_value.size():
             return self.context.format_error(
-                f'tensor shape mismatch: got {tensor.size()!r}, expected {golden_tensor.size()!r}'
+                f'tensor shape mismatch: got {self.value.size()!r}, expected {self.golden_value.size()!r}'
             )
         f = io.StringIO()
         p = lambda *x: print(*x, file=f)
@@ -167,17 +168,60 @@ def error_str(self):
         return f.getvalue()
 
 
-def report_results(results: List[TestResult], verbose: bool = False):
-    """Provide a basic error report summarizing various TestResult's.
+def report_results(results: List[TestResult],
+                   expected_failures: Set[str],
+                   verbose: bool = False):
+    """Print a basic error report summarizing various TestResult's.
+
+    This report uses the PASS/FAIL/XPASS/XFAIL nomenclature of LLVM's
+    "lit" testing utility. See
+    https://llvm.org/docs/CommandGuide/lit.html#test-status-results
+
+    The `expected_failures` set should contain the names of tests
+    (according to their `unique_name`) which are expected to fail.
+    The overall passing/failing status of the report requires these to fail
+    in order to succeed (this catches cases where things suddenly
+    start working).
 
     If `verbose` is True, then provide an explanation of what failed.
+
+    Returns True if the run resulted in any unexpected pass/fail behavior.
+    Otherwise False.
     """
+    summary = collections.Counter()
     for result in results:
         report = SingleTestReport(result, ErrorContext.empty())
-        if not report.failed:
-            print(f'SUCCESS - "{result.unique_name}"')
+        expected_failure = result.unique_name in expected_failures
+        if expected_failure:
+            if report.failed:
+                error_str = ''
+                if verbose:
+                    error_str = '\n' + textwrap.indent(report.error_str(), '    ')
+                print(f'XFAIL - "{result.unique_name}"' + error_str)
+                summary['XFAIL'] += 1
+            else:
+                print(f'XPASS - "{result.unique_name}"')
+                summary['XPASS'] += 1
         else:
-            error_str = ''
-            if verbose:
-                error_str = '\n' + textwrap.indent(report.error_str(), '    ')
-            print(f'FAILURE - "{result.unique_name}"' + error_str)
+            if not report.failed:
+                print(f'PASS - "{result.unique_name}"')
+                summary['PASS'] += 1
+            else:
+                error_str = ''
+                if verbose:
+                    error_str = '\n' + textwrap.indent(report.error_str(), '    ')
+                print(f'FAIL - "{result.unique_name}"' + error_str)
+                summary['FAIL'] += 1
+
+    # Print a summary for easy scanning.
+    print('\nSummary:')
+    KEY_MEANINGS = {
+        'PASS': 'Passed',
+        'FAIL': 'Failed',
+        'XFAIL': 'Expectedly Failed',
+        'XPASS': 'Unexpectedly Passed',
+    }
+    for key in ['PASS', 'FAIL', 'XFAIL', 'XPASS']:
+        if summary[key]:
+            print(f'    {KEY_MEANINGS[key]}: {summary[key]}')
+    return summary['FAIL'] != 0 or summary['XPASS'] != 0
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/basic.py b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/basic.py
index 762d6e7f1c9..7918f2bab32 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/basic.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/basic.py
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ def forward(self, lhs, rhs):
 
 
 # TODO: Refine messages.
-# CHECK: SUCCESS - "MmModule_basic"
+# CHECK: PASS - "MmModule_basic"
 @register_test_case(module_factory=lambda: MmModule())
 def MmModule_basic(module, tu: TestUtils):
     module.forward(tu.rand(4, 4), tu.rand(4, 4))
 
 
-# CHECK: SUCCESS - "MmModule_basic2"
+# CHECK: PASS - "MmModule_basic2"
 @register_test_case(module_factory=lambda: MmModule())
 def MmModule_basic2(module, tu: TestUtils):
     module.forward(tu.rand(4, 4), tu.rand(4, 4))
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def MmModule_basic2(module, tu: TestUtils):
 def main():
     config = TorchScriptTestConfig()
     results = run_tests(GLOBAL_TEST_REGISTRY, config)
-    report_results(results)
+    report_results(results, set())
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/compilation_failure.py b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/compilation_failure.py
index fc4041cc0b3..0d36a4b6ac8 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/compilation_failure.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/compilation_failure.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def forward(self, t):
             return 3
 
 
-# CHECK: FAILURE - "MmModule_basic"
+# CHECK: FAIL - "MmModule_basic"
 # CHECK:     compilation error
 # Assume that the diagnostic from the TorchScript compiler will at least contain
 # the offending "return 3".
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def MmModule_basic(module, tu: TestUtils):
 def main():
     config = TorchScriptTestConfig()
     results = run_tests(GLOBAL_TEST_REGISTRY, config)
-    report_results(results, verbose=True)
+    report_results(results, set(), verbose=True)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/miscompile.py b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/miscompile.py
index a3f2488cf0d..64c8ab64dba 100644
--- a/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/miscompile.py
+++ b/frontends/pytorch/test/torchscript_e2e_test/miscompile.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def forward(self, lhs, rhs):
 
 
 # TODO: Refine error messages.
-# CHECK: FAILURE - "MmModule_basic"
+# CHECK: FAIL - "MmModule_basic"
 # CHECK:     @ trace item #0 - call to "forward"
 # CHECK:     @ output #0
 # CHECK:     ERROR: values mismatch
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def MmModule_basic(module, tu: TestUtils):
 def main():
     config = TorchScriptTestConfig()
     results = run_tests(GLOBAL_TEST_REGISTRY, config)
-    report_results(results, verbose=True)
+    report_results(results, set(), verbose=True)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/__init__.py b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/__init__.py
index e69de29bb2d..95558afbd9e 100644
--- a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/__init__.py
+++ b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+def is_iree_enabled():
+    try:
+        import iree.runtime
+        import iree.compiler
+    except:
+        return False
+    return True
diff --git a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/abc.py b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/abc.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a5f0c80b2f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/abc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#  Part of the LLVM Project, under the Apache License v2.0 with LLVM Exceptions.
+#  See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
+#  SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
+
+import abc
+from typing import TypeVar
+
+import torch
+
+from mlir.ir import Module
+
+# A type shared between the result of `NpcompBackend.compile` and the input
+# to `NpcompBackend.load`. Each backend will likely have a different definition
+# of this type.
+CompiledArtifact = TypeVar('CompiledArtifact')
+
+# A wrapper around a backend-specific loaded program representation
+# that uniformly translates the `x.method(...)` interface expected of
+# Torch modules into appropriate lower-level operations.
+Invoker = TypeVar('Invoker')
+
+
+class NpcompBackend(abc.ABC):
+    """The interface to an npcomp backend.
+    """
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def compile(self, module: Module) -> CompiledArtifact:
+        """Compile the provided MLIR module into a compiled artifact.
+        
+        The module adheres to the npcomp backend contract
+        (see the VerifyBackendContract pass).
+
+        The compiled artifact can be any type, but must be correctly
+        interpreted by the `load` method.
+        """
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def load(self, artifact: CompiledArtifact) -> Invoker:
+        """Load the compiled artifact into a uniformly invokable form.
+
+        The compiled artifact is the result of a previous call to `compile`.
+
+        See the description of `Invoker` for the requirements on the returned
+        type.
+        """
diff --git a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/iree.py b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/iree.py
index 6fd0c76b09b..2edb1ab0239 100644
--- a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/iree.py
+++ b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/iree.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import os
 
 import torch
+import numpy as np
 
 from mlir.ir import *
 from mlir.passmanager import *
@@ -12,8 +13,10 @@
 import iree.runtime as ireert
 import iree.compiler as ireec
 
+from .abc import NpcompBackend
+
 __all__ = [
-    "CompilerBackend",
+    "IreeNpcompBackend",
 ]
 
 PREPARE_FOR_IREE_PASSES = (
@@ -34,6 +37,8 @@ def __getitem__(self, function_name):
 
     def invoke(*args):
       results = self._iree_module[function_name](*args)
+      if isinstance(results, np.ndarray):
+        return results
       if len(results) == 1:
         # De-tuple.
         return results[0]
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ def invoke(*args):
     return invoke
 
 
-class CompilerBackend:
+class IreeNpcompBackend(NpcompBackend):
   """Main entry-point for the backend."""
 
   def __init__(self):
@@ -67,9 +72,8 @@ def __init__(self):
 
   def compile(self, imported_module: Module):
     """Compiles an imported module, with a flat list of functions.
-    The module is expected to be in "TCP + scalar code" form.
-    TODO: More clearly define the backend contract. Generally this will
-    extend to support globals, lists, and other stuff.
+    The module is expected to conform to the npcomp backend contract.
+    See the VerifyBackendContract pass for more details.
 
     Args:
       imported_module: The MLIR module consisting of funcs in the torch
@@ -97,12 +101,13 @@ def compile(self, imported_module: Module):
       # Backend.
       binary = ireec.compile_str(str(imported_module),
                                  target_backends=["dylib-llvm-aot"])
-      iree_config = ireert.Config(driver_name="dylib")
-
-      iree_module = ireert.load_module(ireert.VmModule.from_flatbuffer(binary),
-                                       config=iree_config)
-    return iree_module
+    return binary
 
   def load(self, iree_module) -> TorchIreeModuleInvoker:
     """Loads a compiled artifact into the runtime."""
-    return TorchIreeModuleInvoker(iree_module)
+    vm_module = ireert.VmModule.from_flatbuffer(iree_module)
+
+    iree_config = ireert.Config(driver_name="dylib")
+    ctx = ireert.SystemContext(config=iree_config)
+    ctx.add_vm_module(vm_module)
+    return TorchIreeModuleInvoker(ctx.modules.module)
diff --git a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/refjit.py b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/refjit.py
index ece83ae6b2d..6eefaf9748b 100644
--- a/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/refjit.py
+++ b/python/npcomp/compiler/pytorch/backend/refjit.py
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@
 from mlir.passmanager import *
 from npcomp.compiler.generic.backend import refjit as refjit_backend
 from npcomp.compiler.utils import logging
+from .abc import NpcompBackend
 
 __all__ = [
     "is_enabled",
-    "CompilerBackend",
+    "RefjitNpcompBackend",
 ]
 
 # Re-export.
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def invoke(*args):
     return invoke
 
 
-class CompilerBackend:
+class RefjitNpcompBackend(NpcompBackend):
   """Main entry-point for the backend."""
 
   def __init__(self):
diff --git a/tools/torchscript_e2e_test.sh b/tools/torchscript_e2e_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..b1940f7a724
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/torchscript_e2e_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+src_dir="$(realpath $(dirname $0)/..)"
+
+cd "$src_dir"
+source .env
+python -m frontends.pytorch.e2e_testing.torchscript.main "$@"