diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/lib.rs
index 8a9efe01368e3..14b3f720f83a1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #![feature(associated_type_bounds)]
 #![feature(associated_type_defaults)]
+#![feature(box_syntax)]
 #![feature(crate_visibility_modifier)]
 #![feature(decl_macro)]
 #![feature(if_let_guard)]
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe.rs
index 3d4c77aba7339..0f7a8a9ed7550 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe.rs
@@ -17,23 +17,48 @@ use rustc_data_structures::sync::Lrc;
 use rustc_span::symbol::Ident;
 use rustc_span::Span;
 
-/// Contains the sub-token-trees of a "delimited" token tree, such as the contents of `(`. Note
-/// that the delimiter itself might be `NoDelim`.
+/// Contains the sub-token-trees of a "delimited" token tree such as `(a b c)`. The delimiter itself
+/// might be `NoDelim`.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Encodable, Decodable, Debug)]
 struct Delimited {
     delim: token::DelimToken,
-    tts: Vec<TokenTree>,
+    /// Note: This contains the opening and closing delimiters tokens (e.g. `(` and `)`). Note that
+    /// these could be `NoDelim`. These token kinds must match `delim`, and the methods below
+    /// debug_assert this.
+    all_tts: Vec<TokenTree>,
 }
 
 impl Delimited {
-    /// Returns a `self::TokenTree` with a `Span` corresponding to the opening delimiter.
-    fn open_tt(&self, span: DelimSpan) -> TokenTree {
-        TokenTree::token(token::OpenDelim(self.delim), span.open)
+    /// Returns a `self::TokenTree` with a `Span` corresponding to the opening delimiter. Panics if
+    /// the delimiter is `NoDelim`.
+    fn open_tt(&self) -> &TokenTree {
+        let tt = self.all_tts.first().unwrap();
+        debug_assert!(matches!(
+            tt,
+            &TokenTree::Token(token::Token { kind: token::OpenDelim(d), .. }) if d == self.delim
+        ));
+        tt
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a `self::TokenTree` with a `Span` corresponding to the closing delimiter. Panics if
+    /// the delimeter is `NoDelim`.
+    fn close_tt(&self) -> &TokenTree {
+        let tt = self.all_tts.last().unwrap();
+        debug_assert!(matches!(
+            tt,
+            &TokenTree::Token(token::Token { kind: token::CloseDelim(d), .. }) if d == self.delim
+        ));
+        tt
     }
 
-    /// Returns a `self::TokenTree` with a `Span` corresponding to the closing delimiter.
-    fn close_tt(&self, span: DelimSpan) -> TokenTree {
-        TokenTree::token(token::CloseDelim(self.delim), span.close)
+    /// Returns the tts excluding the outer delimiters.
+    ///
+    /// FIXME: #67062 has details about why this is sub-optimal.
+    fn inner_tts(&self) -> &[TokenTree] {
+        // These functions are called for the assertions within them.
+        let _open_tt = self.open_tt();
+        let _close_tt = self.close_tt();
+        &self.all_tts[1..self.all_tts.len() - 1]
     }
 }
 
@@ -73,35 +98,24 @@ enum KleeneOp {
     ZeroOrOne,
 }
 
-/// Similar to `tokenstream::TokenTree`, except that `$i`, `$i:ident`, `$(...)`,
-/// and `${...}` are "first-class" token trees. Useful for parsing macros.
+/// Similar to `tokenstream::TokenTree`, except that `Sequence`, `MetaVar`, `MetaVarDecl`, and
+/// `MetaVarExpr` are "first-class" token trees. Useful for parsing macros.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Encodable, Decodable)]
 enum TokenTree {
     Token(Token),
+    /// A delimited sequence, e.g. `($e:expr)` (RHS) or `{ $e }` (LHS).
     Delimited(DelimSpan, Lrc<Delimited>),
-    /// A kleene-style repetition sequence
+    /// A kleene-style repetition sequence, e.g. `$($e:expr)*` (RHS) or `$($e),*` (LHS).
     Sequence(DelimSpan, Lrc<SequenceRepetition>),
-    /// e.g., `$var`
+    /// e.g., `$var`.
     MetaVar(Span, Ident),
-    /// e.g., `$var:expr`. This is only used in the left hand side of MBE macros.
+    /// e.g., `$var:expr`. Only appears on the LHS.
     MetaVarDecl(Span, Ident /* name to bind */, Option<NonterminalKind>),
-    /// A meta-variable expression inside `${...}`
+    /// A meta-variable expression inside `${...}`.
     MetaVarExpr(DelimSpan, MetaVarExpr),
 }
 
 impl TokenTree {
-    /// Return the number of tokens in the tree.
-    fn len(&self) -> usize {
-        match *self {
-            TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delimed) => match delimed.delim {
-                token::NoDelim => delimed.tts.len(),
-                _ => delimed.tts.len() + 2,
-            },
-            TokenTree::Sequence(_, ref seq) => seq.tts.len(),
-            _ => 0,
-        }
-    }
-
     /// Returns `true` if the given token tree is delimited.
     fn is_delimited(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(*self, TokenTree::Delimited(..))
@@ -115,26 +129,6 @@ impl TokenTree {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Gets the `index`-th sub-token-tree. This only makes sense for delimited trees and sequences.
-    fn get_tt(&self, index: usize) -> TokenTree {
-        match (self, index) {
-            (&TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delimed), _) if delimed.delim == token::NoDelim => {
-                delimed.tts[index].clone()
-            }
-            (&TokenTree::Delimited(span, ref delimed), _) => {
-                if index == 0 {
-                    return delimed.open_tt(span);
-                }
-                if index == delimed.tts.len() + 1 {
-                    return delimed.close_tt(span);
-                }
-                delimed.tts[index - 1].clone()
-            }
-            (&TokenTree::Sequence(_, ref seq), _) => seq.tts[index].clone(),
-            _ => panic!("Cannot expand a token tree"),
-        }
-    }
-
     /// Retrieves the `TokenTree`'s span.
     fn span(&self) -> Span {
         match *self {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_check.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_check.rs
index f18cf95a2bf11..b55a40c5b2c4b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_check.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_check.rs
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ fn check_binders(
         // `MetaVarExpr` can not appear in the LHS of a macro arm
         TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => {}
         TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref del) => {
-            for tt in &del.tts {
+            for tt in del.inner_tts() {
                 check_binders(sess, node_id, tt, macros, binders, ops, valid);
             }
         }
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ fn check_occurrences(
             check_ops_is_prefix(sess, node_id, macros, binders, ops, dl.entire(), name);
         }
         TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref del) => {
-            check_nested_occurrences(sess, node_id, &del.tts, macros, binders, ops, valid);
+            check_nested_occurrences(sess, node_id, del.inner_tts(), macros, binders, ops, valid);
         }
         TokenTree::Sequence(_, ref seq) => {
             let ops = ops.push(seq.kleene);
@@ -431,14 +431,20 @@ fn check_nested_occurrences(
             {
                 let macro_rules = state == NestedMacroState::MacroRulesNotName;
                 state = NestedMacroState::Empty;
-                let rest =
-                    check_nested_macro(sess, node_id, macro_rules, &del.tts, &nested_macros, valid);
+                let rest = check_nested_macro(
+                    sess,
+                    node_id,
+                    macro_rules,
+                    del.inner_tts(),
+                    &nested_macros,
+                    valid,
+                );
                 // If we did not check the whole macro definition, then check the rest as if outside
                 // the macro definition.
                 check_nested_occurrences(
                     sess,
                     node_id,
-                    &del.tts[rest..],
+                    &del.inner_tts()[rest..],
                     macros,
                     binders,
                     ops,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_parser.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_parser.rs
index 8cc81f1eca890..d8071bf159a74 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_parser.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_parser.rs
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@
 
 crate use NamedMatch::*;
 crate use ParseResult::*;
-use TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice::*;
 
-use crate::mbe::{self, DelimSpan, SequenceRepetition, TokenTree};
+use crate::mbe::{self, SequenceRepetition, TokenTree};
 
 use rustc_ast::token::{self, DocComment, Nonterminal, Token};
 use rustc_parse::parser::Parser;
@@ -89,36 +88,6 @@ use rustc_span::symbol::Ident;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::collections::hash_map::Entry::{Occupied, Vacant};
 use std::mem;
-use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
-
-// To avoid costly uniqueness checks, we require that `MatchSeq` always has a nonempty body.
-
-/// Either a slice of token trees or a single one. This is used as the representation of the
-/// token trees that make up a matcher.
-#[derive(Clone)]
-enum TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt> {
-    Tt(TokenTree),
-    TtSlice(&'tt [TokenTree]),
-}
-
-impl<'tt> TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt> {
-    /// Returns the number of constituent top-level token trees of `self` (top-level in that it
-    /// will not recursively descend into subtrees).
-    fn len(&self) -> usize {
-        match *self {
-            TtSlice(ref v) => v.len(),
-            Tt(ref tt) => tt.len(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// The `index`-th token tree of `self`.
-    fn get_tt(&self, index: usize) -> TokenTree {
-        match *self {
-            TtSlice(ref v) => v[index].clone(),
-            Tt(ref tt) => tt.get_tt(index),
-        }
-    }
-}
 
 /// An unzipping of `TokenTree`s... see the `stack` field of `MatcherPos`.
 ///
@@ -127,7 +96,7 @@ impl<'tt> TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt> {
 #[derive(Clone)]
 struct MatcherTtFrame<'tt> {
     /// The "parent" matcher that we are descending into.
-    elts: TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt>,
+    elts: &'tt [TokenTree],
     /// The position of the "dot" in `elts` at the time we descended.
     idx: usize,
 }
@@ -136,26 +105,10 @@ type NamedMatchVec = SmallVec<[NamedMatch; 4]>;
 
 /// Represents a single "position" (aka "matcher position", aka "item"), as
 /// described in the module documentation.
-///
-/// Here:
-///
-/// - `'root` represents the lifetime of the stack slot that holds the root
-///   `MatcherPos`. As described in `MatcherPosHandle`, the root `MatcherPos`
-///   structure is stored on the stack, but subsequent instances are put into
-///   the heap.
-/// - `'tt` represents the lifetime of the token trees that this matcher
-///   position refers to.
-///
-/// It is important to distinguish these two lifetimes because we have a
-/// `SmallVec<TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt>>` below, and the destructor of
-/// that is considered to possibly access the data from its elements (it lacks
-/// a `#[may_dangle]` attribute). As a result, the compiler needs to know that
-/// all the elements in that `SmallVec` strictly outlive the root stack slot
-/// lifetime. By separating `'tt` from `'root`, we can show that.
 #[derive(Clone)]
-struct MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
+struct MatcherPos<'tt> {
     /// The token or slice of tokens that make up the matcher. `elts` is short for "elements".
-    top_elts: TokenTreeOrTokenTreeSlice<'tt>,
+    top_elts: &'tt [TokenTree],
 
     /// The position of the "dot" in this matcher
     idx: usize,
@@ -185,7 +138,7 @@ struct MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
     match_hi: usize,
 
     /// This field is only used if we are matching a repetition.
-    repetition: Option<MatcherPosRepetition<'root, 'tt>>,
+    repetition: Option<MatcherPosRepetition<'tt>>,
 
     /// Specifically used to "unzip" token trees. By "unzip", we mean to unwrap the delimiters from
     /// a delimited token tree (e.g., something wrapped in `(` `)`) or to get the contents of a doc
@@ -200,9 +153,9 @@ struct MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
 
 // This type is used a lot. Make sure it doesn't unintentionally get bigger.
 #[cfg(all(target_arch = "x86_64", target_pointer_width = "64"))]
-rustc_data_structures::static_assert_size!(MatcherPos<'_, '_>, 240);
+rustc_data_structures::static_assert_size!(MatcherPos<'_>, 136);
 
-impl<'root, 'tt> MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
+impl<'tt> MatcherPos<'tt> {
     /// `len` `Vec`s (initially shared and empty) that will store matches of metavars.
     fn create_matches(len: usize) -> Box<[Lrc<NamedMatchVec>]> {
         if len == 0 {
@@ -220,7 +173,7 @@ impl<'root, 'tt> MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
         let match_idx_hi = count_names(ms);
         MatcherPos {
             // Start with the top level matcher given to us.
-            top_elts: TtSlice(ms),
+            top_elts: ms,
 
             // The "dot" is before the first token of the matcher.
             idx: 0,
@@ -241,13 +194,9 @@ impl<'root, 'tt> MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn repetition(
-        up: MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>,
-        sp: DelimSpan,
-        seq: Lrc<SequenceRepetition>,
-    ) -> Self {
+    fn repetition(up: Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>, seq: &'tt SequenceRepetition) -> Self {
         MatcherPos {
-            stack: smallvec![],
+            top_elts: &seq.tts,
             idx: 0,
             matches: Self::create_matches(up.matches.len()),
             match_lo: up.match_cur,
@@ -258,7 +207,7 @@ impl<'root, 'tt> MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
                 sep: seq.separator.clone(),
                 seq_op: seq.kleene.op,
             }),
-            top_elts: Tt(TokenTree::Sequence(sp, seq)),
+            stack: smallvec![],
         }
     }
 
@@ -270,7 +219,7 @@ impl<'root, 'tt> MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
-struct MatcherPosRepetition<'root, 'tt> {
+struct MatcherPosRepetition<'tt> {
     /// The KleeneOp of this sequence.
     seq_op: mbe::KleeneOp,
 
@@ -279,55 +228,12 @@ struct MatcherPosRepetition<'root, 'tt> {
 
     /// The "parent" matcher position. That is, the matcher position just before we enter the
     /// sequence.
-    up: MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>,
-}
-
-// Lots of MatcherPos instances are created at runtime. Allocating them on the
-// heap is slow. Furthermore, using SmallVec<MatcherPos> to allocate them all
-// on the stack is also slow, because MatcherPos is quite a large type and
-// instances get moved around a lot between vectors, which requires lots of
-// slow memcpy calls.
-//
-// Therefore, the initial MatcherPos is always allocated on the stack,
-// subsequent ones (of which there aren't that many) are allocated on the heap,
-// and this type is used to encapsulate both cases.
-enum MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt> {
-    Ref(&'root mut MatcherPos<'root, 'tt>),
-    Box(Box<MatcherPos<'root, 'tt>>),
-}
-
-impl<'root, 'tt> Clone for MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt> {
-    // This always produces a new Box.
-    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
-        MatcherPosHandle::Box(match *self {
-            MatcherPosHandle::Ref(ref r) => Box::new((**r).clone()),
-            MatcherPosHandle::Box(ref b) => b.clone(),
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'root, 'tt> Deref for MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt> {
-    type Target = MatcherPos<'root, 'tt>;
-    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        match *self {
-            MatcherPosHandle::Ref(ref r) => r,
-            MatcherPosHandle::Box(ref b) => b,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'root, 'tt> DerefMut for MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt> {
-    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut MatcherPos<'root, 'tt> {
-        match *self {
-            MatcherPosHandle::Ref(ref mut r) => r,
-            MatcherPosHandle::Box(ref mut b) => b,
-        }
-    }
+    up: Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>,
 }
 
-enum EofItems<'root, 'tt> {
+enum EofItems<'tt> {
     None,
-    One(MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>),
+    One(Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>),
     Multiple,
 }
 
@@ -352,8 +258,8 @@ crate type NamedParseResult = ParseResult<FxHashMap<MacroRulesNormalizedIdent, N
 pub(super) fn count_names(ms: &[TokenTree]) -> usize {
     ms.iter().fold(0, |count, elt| {
         count
-            + match *elt {
-                TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delim) => count_names(&delim.tts),
+            + match elt {
+                TokenTree::Delimited(_, delim) => count_names(delim.inner_tts()),
                 TokenTree::MetaVar(..) => 0,
                 TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(..) => 1,
                 // Panicking here would abort execution because `parse_tree` makes use of this
@@ -362,7 +268,7 @@ pub(super) fn count_names(ms: &[TokenTree]) -> usize {
                 // `0` is still returned to inform that no meta-variable was found. `Meta-variables
                 // != Meta-variable expressions`
                 TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => 0,
-                TokenTree::Sequence(_, ref seq) => seq.num_captures,
+                TokenTree::Sequence(_, seq) => seq.num_captures,
                 TokenTree::Token(..) => 0,
             }
     })
@@ -446,7 +352,7 @@ fn nameize<I: Iterator<Item = NamedMatch>>(
                 }
             }
             TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delim) => {
-                for next_m in &delim.tts {
+                for next_m in delim.inner_tts() {
                     n_rec(sess, next_m, res.by_ref(), ret_val)?;
                 }
             }
@@ -492,319 +398,316 @@ fn token_name_eq(t1: &Token, t2: &Token) -> bool {
     }
 }
 
-/// Process the matcher positions of `cur_items` until it is empty. In the process, this will
-/// produce more items in `next_items` and `bb_items`.
-///
-/// For more info about the how this happens, see the module-level doc comments and the inline
-/// comments of this function.
-///
-/// # Parameters
-///
-/// - `cur_items`: the set of current items to be processed. This should be empty by the end of a
-///   successful execution of this function.
-/// - `next_items`: the set of newly generated items. These are used to replenish `cur_items` in
-///   the function `parse`.
-/// - `bb_items`: the set of items that are waiting for the black-box parser.
-/// - `token`: the current token of the parser.
-///
-/// # Returns
-///
-/// `Some(result)` if everything is finished, `None` otherwise. Note that matches are kept track of
-/// through the items generated.
-fn parse_tt_inner<'root, 'tt>(
-    sess: &ParseSess,
-    ms: &[TokenTree],
-    cur_items: &mut SmallVec<[MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>; 1]>,
-    next_items: &mut SmallVec<[MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>; 1]>,
-    bb_items: &mut SmallVec<[MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>; 1]>,
-    token: &Token,
-) -> Option<NamedParseResult> {
-    // Matcher positions that would be valid if the macro invocation was over now. Only modified if
-    // `token == Eof`.
-    let mut eof_items = EofItems::None;
-
-    while let Some(mut item) = cur_items.pop() {
-        // When unzipped trees end, remove them. This corresponds to backtracking out of a
-        // delimited submatcher into which we already descended. When backtracking out again, we
-        // need to advance the "dot" past the delimiters in the outer matcher.
-        while item.idx >= item.top_elts.len() {
-            match item.stack.pop() {
-                Some(MatcherTtFrame { elts, idx }) => {
-                    item.top_elts = elts;
-                    item.idx = idx + 1;
+// Note: the item vectors could be created and dropped within `parse_tt`, but to avoid excess
+// allocations we have a single vector fo each kind that is cleared and reused repeatedly.
+pub struct TtParser<'tt> {
+    macro_name: Ident,
+
+    /// The set of current items to be processed. This should be empty by the end of a successful
+    /// execution of `parse_tt_inner`.
+    cur_items: Vec<Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>>,
+
+    /// The set of newly generated items. These are used to replenish `cur_items` in the function
+    /// `parse_tt`.
+    next_items: Vec<Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>>,
+
+    /// The set of items that are waiting for the black-box parser.
+    bb_items: Vec<Box<MatcherPos<'tt>>>,
+}
+
+impl<'tt> TtParser<'tt> {
+    pub(super) fn new(macro_name: Ident) -> TtParser<'tt> {
+        TtParser { macro_name, cur_items: vec![], next_items: vec![], bb_items: vec![] }
+    }
+
+    /// Process the matcher positions of `cur_items` until it is empty. In the process, this will
+    /// produce more items in `next_items` and `bb_items`.
+    ///
+    /// For more info about the how this happens, see the module-level doc comments and the inline
+    /// comments of this function.
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    ///
+    /// `Some(result)` if everything is finished, `None` otherwise. Note that matches are kept
+    /// track of through the items generated.
+    fn parse_tt_inner(
+        &mut self,
+        sess: &ParseSess,
+        ms: &[TokenTree],
+        token: &Token,
+    ) -> Option<NamedParseResult> {
+        // Matcher positions that would be valid if the macro invocation was over now. Only
+        // modified if `token == Eof`.
+        let mut eof_items = EofItems::None;
+
+        while let Some(mut item) = self.cur_items.pop() {
+            // When unzipped trees end, remove them. This corresponds to backtracking out of a
+            // delimited submatcher into which we already descended. When backtracking out again, we
+            // need to advance the "dot" past the delimiters in the outer matcher.
+            while item.idx >= item.top_elts.len() {
+                match item.stack.pop() {
+                    Some(MatcherTtFrame { elts, idx }) => {
+                        item.top_elts = elts;
+                        item.idx = idx + 1;
+                    }
+                    None => break,
                 }
-                None => break,
             }
-        }
 
-        // Get the current position of the "dot" (`idx`) in `item` and the number of token trees in
-        // the matcher (`len`).
-        let idx = item.idx;
-        let len = item.top_elts.len();
-
-        if idx < len {
-            // We are in the middle of a matcher. Compare the matcher's current tt against `token`.
-            match item.top_elts.get_tt(idx) {
-                TokenTree::Sequence(sp, seq) => {
-                    let op = seq.kleene.op;
-                    if op == mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrMore || op == mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrOne {
-                        // Allow for the possibility of zero matches of this sequence.
-                        let mut new_item = item.clone();
-                        new_item.match_cur += seq.num_captures;
-                        new_item.idx += 1;
-                        for idx in item.match_cur..item.match_cur + seq.num_captures {
-                            new_item.push_match(idx, MatchedSeq(Lrc::new(smallvec![])));
+            // Get the current position of the "dot" (`idx`) in `item` and the number of token
+            // trees in the matcher (`len`).
+            let idx = item.idx;
+            let len = item.top_elts.len();
+
+            if idx < len {
+                // We are in the middle of a matcher. Compare the matcher's current tt against
+                // `token`.
+                match &item.top_elts[idx] {
+                    TokenTree::Sequence(_sp, seq) => {
+                        let op = seq.kleene.op;
+                        if op == mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrMore || op == mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrOne {
+                            // Allow for the possibility of zero matches of this sequence.
+                            let mut new_item = item.clone();
+                            new_item.match_cur += seq.num_captures;
+                            new_item.idx += 1;
+                            for idx in item.match_cur..item.match_cur + seq.num_captures {
+                                new_item.push_match(idx, MatchedSeq(Lrc::new(smallvec![])));
+                            }
+                            self.cur_items.push(new_item);
                         }
-                        cur_items.push(new_item);
+
+                        // Allow for the possibility of one or more matches of this sequence.
+                        self.cur_items.push(box MatcherPos::repetition(item, &seq));
                     }
 
-                    // Allow for the possibility of one or more matches of this sequence.
-                    cur_items.push(MatcherPosHandle::Box(Box::new(MatcherPos::repetition(
-                        item, sp, seq,
-                    ))));
-                }
+                    &TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(span, _, None) => {
+                        // E.g. `$e` instead of `$e:expr`.
+                        if sess.missing_fragment_specifiers.borrow_mut().remove(&span).is_some() {
+                            return Some(Error(span, "missing fragment specifier".to_string()));
+                        }
+                    }
 
-                TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(span, _, None) => {
-                    // E.g. `$e` instead of `$e:expr`.
-                    if sess.missing_fragment_specifiers.borrow_mut().remove(&span).is_some() {
-                        return Some(Error(span, "missing fragment specifier".to_string()));
+                    &TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(_, _, Some(kind)) => {
+                        // Built-in nonterminals never start with these tokens, so we can eliminate
+                        // them from consideration.
+                        //
+                        // We use the span of the metavariable declaration to determine any
+                        // edition-specific matching behavior for non-terminals.
+                        if Parser::nonterminal_may_begin_with(kind, token) {
+                            self.bb_items.push(item);
+                        }
                     }
-                }
 
-                TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(_, _, Some(kind)) => {
-                    // Built-in nonterminals never start with these tokens, so we can eliminate
-                    // them from consideration.
-                    //
-                    // We use the span of the metavariable declaration to determine any
-                    // edition-specific matching behavior for non-terminals.
-                    if Parser::nonterminal_may_begin_with(kind, token) {
-                        bb_items.push(item);
+                    TokenTree::Delimited(_, delimited) => {
+                        // To descend into a delimited submatcher, we push the current matcher onto
+                        // a stack and push a new item containing the submatcher onto `cur_items`.
+                        //
+                        // At the beginning of the loop, if we reach the end of the delimited
+                        // submatcher, we pop the stack to backtrack out of the descent. Note that
+                        // we use `all_tts` to include the open and close delimiter tokens.
+                        let lower_elts = mem::replace(&mut item.top_elts, &delimited.all_tts);
+                        let idx = item.idx;
+                        item.stack.push(MatcherTtFrame { elts: lower_elts, idx });
+                        item.idx = 0;
+                        self.cur_items.push(item);
                     }
-                }
 
-                seq @ (TokenTree::Delimited(..)
-                | TokenTree::Token(Token { kind: DocComment(..), .. })) => {
-                    // To descend into a delimited submatcher or a doc comment, we push the current
-                    // matcher onto a stack and push a new item containing the submatcher onto
-                    // `cur_items`.
-                    //
-                    // At the beginning of the loop, if we reach the end of the delimited
-                    // submatcher, we pop the stack to backtrack out of the descent.
-                    let lower_elts = mem::replace(&mut item.top_elts, Tt(seq));
-                    let idx = item.idx;
-                    item.stack.push(MatcherTtFrame { elts: lower_elts, idx });
-                    item.idx = 0;
-                    cur_items.push(item);
+                    TokenTree::Token(t) => {
+                        // Doc comments cannot appear in a matcher.
+                        debug_assert!(!matches!(t, Token { kind: DocComment(..), .. }));
+
+                        // If the token matches, we can just advance the parser. Otherwise, this
+                        // match hash failed, there is nothing to do, and hopefully another item in
+                        // `cur_items` will match.
+                        if token_name_eq(&t, token) {
+                            item.idx += 1;
+                            self.next_items.push(item);
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    // These cannot appear in a matcher.
+                    TokenTree::MetaVar(..) | TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => unreachable!(),
+                }
+            } else if let Some(repetition) = &item.repetition {
+                // We are past the end of a repetition.
+                debug_assert!(idx <= len + 1);
+
+                if idx == len {
+                    // Add all matches from the sequence to `up`, and move the "dot" past the
+                    // repetition in `up`. This allows for the case where the sequence matching is
+                    // finished.
+                    let mut new_pos = repetition.up.clone();
+                    for idx in item.match_lo..item.match_hi {
+                        let sub = item.matches[idx].clone();
+                        new_pos.push_match(idx, MatchedSeq(sub));
+                    }
+                    new_pos.match_cur = item.match_hi;
+                    new_pos.idx += 1;
+                    self.cur_items.push(new_pos);
                 }
 
-                TokenTree::Token(t) => {
-                    // If the token matches, we can just advance the parser. Otherwise, this match
-                    // hash failed, there is nothing to do, and hopefully another item in
-                    // `cur_items` will match.
-                    if token_name_eq(&t, token) {
+                if idx == len && repetition.sep.is_some() {
+                    if repetition.sep.as_ref().map_or(false, |sep| token_name_eq(token, sep)) {
+                        // The matcher has a separator, and it matches the current token. We can
+                        // advance past the separator token.
                         item.idx += 1;
-                        next_items.push(item);
+                        self.next_items.push(item);
                     }
+                } else if repetition.seq_op != mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrOne {
+                    // We don't need a separator. Move the "dot" back to the beginning of the
+                    // matcher and try to match again UNLESS we are only allowed to have _one_
+                    // repetition.
+                    item.match_cur = item.match_lo;
+                    item.idx = 0;
+                    self.cur_items.push(item);
                 }
-
-                // These cannot appear in a matcher.
-                TokenTree::MetaVar(..) | TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => unreachable!(),
-            }
-        } else if let Some(repetition) = &item.repetition {
-            // We are past the end of a repetition.
-            debug_assert!(idx <= len + 1);
-            debug_assert!(matches!(item.top_elts, Tt(TokenTree::Sequence(..))));
-
-            if idx == len {
-                // Add all matches from the sequence to `up`, and move the "dot" past the
-                // repetition in `up`. This allows for the case where the sequence matching is
-                // finished.
-                let mut new_pos = repetition.up.clone();
-                for idx in item.match_lo..item.match_hi {
-                    let sub = item.matches[idx].clone();
-                    new_pos.push_match(idx, MatchedSeq(sub));
+            } else {
+                // We are past the end of the matcher, and not in a repetition. Look for end of
+                // input.
+                debug_assert_eq!(idx, len);
+                if *token == token::Eof {
+                    eof_items = match eof_items {
+                        EofItems::None => EofItems::One(item),
+                        EofItems::One(_) | EofItems::Multiple => EofItems::Multiple,
+                    }
                 }
-                new_pos.match_cur = item.match_hi;
-                new_pos.idx += 1;
-                cur_items.push(new_pos);
             }
+        }
 
-            if idx == len && repetition.sep.is_some() {
-                if repetition.sep.as_ref().map_or(false, |sep| token_name_eq(token, sep)) {
-                    // The matcher has a separator, and it matches the current token. We can
-                    // advance past the separator token.
-                    item.idx += 1;
-                    next_items.push(item);
+        // If we reached the end of input, check that there is EXACTLY ONE possible matcher.
+        // Otherwise, either the parse is ambiguous (which is an error) or there is a syntax error.
+        if *token == token::Eof {
+            Some(match eof_items {
+                EofItems::One(mut eof_item) => {
+                    let matches =
+                        eof_item.matches.iter_mut().map(|dv| Lrc::make_mut(dv).pop().unwrap());
+                    nameize(sess, ms, matches)
                 }
-            } else if repetition.seq_op != mbe::KleeneOp::ZeroOrOne {
-                // We don't need a separator. Move the "dot" back to the beginning of the
-                // matcher and try to match again UNLESS we are only allowed to have _one_
-                // repetition.
-                item.match_cur = item.match_lo;
-                item.idx = 0;
-                cur_items.push(item);
-            }
-        } else {
-            // We are past the end of the matcher, and not in a repetition. Look for end of input.
-            debug_assert_eq!(idx, len);
-            if *token == token::Eof {
-                eof_items = match eof_items {
-                    EofItems::None => EofItems::One(item),
-                    EofItems::One(_) | EofItems::Multiple => EofItems::Multiple,
+                EofItems::Multiple => {
+                    Error(token.span, "ambiguity: multiple successful parses".to_string())
                 }
-            }
+                EofItems::None => Failure(
+                    Token::new(
+                        token::Eof,
+                        if token.span.is_dummy() { token.span } else { token.span.shrink_to_hi() },
+                    ),
+                    "missing tokens in macro arguments",
+                ),
+            })
+        } else {
+            None
         }
     }
 
-    // If we reached the end of input, check that there is EXACTLY ONE possible matcher. Otherwise,
-    // either the parse is ambiguous (which is an error) or there is a syntax error.
-    if *token == token::Eof {
-        Some(match eof_items {
-            EofItems::One(mut eof_item) => {
-                let matches =
-                    eof_item.matches.iter_mut().map(|dv| Lrc::make_mut(dv).pop().unwrap());
-                nameize(sess, ms, matches)
-            }
-            EofItems::Multiple => {
-                Error(token.span, "ambiguity: multiple successful parses".to_string())
+    /// Use the given slice of token trees (`ms`) as a matcher. Match the token stream from the
+    /// given `parser` against it and return the match.
+    pub(super) fn parse_tt(
+        &mut self,
+        parser: &mut Cow<'_, Parser<'_>>,
+        ms: &'tt [TokenTree],
+    ) -> NamedParseResult {
+        // A queue of possible matcher positions. We initialize it with the matcher position in
+        // which the "dot" is before the first token of the first token tree in `ms`.
+        // `parse_tt_inner` then processes all of these possible matcher positions and produces
+        // possible next positions into `next_items`. After some post-processing, the contents of
+        // `next_items` replenish `cur_items` and we start over again.
+        self.cur_items.clear();
+        self.cur_items.push(box MatcherPos::new(ms));
+
+        loop {
+            self.next_items.clear();
+            self.bb_items.clear();
+
+            // Process `cur_items` until either we have finished the input or we need to get some
+            // parsing from the black-box parser done.
+            if let Some(result) = self.parse_tt_inner(parser.sess, ms, &parser.token) {
+                return result;
             }
-            EofItems::None => Failure(
-                Token::new(
-                    token::Eof,
-                    if token.span.is_dummy() { token.span } else { token.span.shrink_to_hi() },
-                ),
-                "missing tokens in macro arguments",
-            ),
-        })
-    } else {
-        None
-    }
-}
-
-/// Use the given slice of token trees (`ms`) as a matcher. Match the token stream from the given
-/// `parser` against it and return the match.
-pub(super) fn parse_tt(
-    parser: &mut Cow<'_, Parser<'_>>,
-    ms: &[TokenTree],
-    macro_name: Ident,
-) -> NamedParseResult {
-    // A queue of possible matcher positions. We initialize it with the matcher position in which
-    // the "dot" is before the first token of the first token tree in `ms`. `parse_tt_inner` then
-    // processes all of these possible matcher positions and produces possible next positions into
-    // `next_items`. After some post-processing, the contents of `next_items` replenish `cur_items`
-    // and we start over again.
-    //
-    // This MatcherPos instance is allocated on the stack. All others -- and there are frequently
-    // *no* others! -- are allocated on the heap.
-    let mut initial = MatcherPos::new(ms);
-    let mut cur_items = smallvec![MatcherPosHandle::Ref(&mut initial)];
-
-    loop {
-        let mut next_items = SmallVec::new();
-
-        // Matcher positions black-box parsed by `Parser`.
-        let mut bb_items = SmallVec::new();
-
-        // Process `cur_items` until either we have finished the input or we need to get some
-        // parsing from the black-box parser done.
-        if let Some(result) = parse_tt_inner(
-            parser.sess,
-            ms,
-            &mut cur_items,
-            &mut next_items,
-            &mut bb_items,
-            &parser.token,
-        ) {
-            return result;
-        }
 
-        // `parse_tt_inner` handled all cur_items, so it's empty.
-        assert!(cur_items.is_empty());
+            // `parse_tt_inner` handled all cur_items, so it's empty.
+            assert!(self.cur_items.is_empty());
+
+            // Error messages here could be improved with links to original rules.
+            match (self.next_items.len(), self.bb_items.len()) {
+                (0, 0) => {
+                    // There are no possible next positions AND we aren't waiting for the black-box
+                    // parser: syntax error.
+                    return Failure(
+                        parser.token.clone(),
+                        "no rules expected this token in macro call",
+                    );
+                }
 
-        // Error messages here could be improved with links to original rules.
-        match (next_items.len(), bb_items.len()) {
-            (0, 0) => {
-                // There are no possible next positions AND we aren't waiting for the black-box
-                // parser: syntax error.
-                return Failure(parser.token.clone(), "no rules expected this token in macro call");
-            }
+                (_, 0) => {
+                    // Dump all possible `next_items` into `cur_items` for the next iteration. Then
+                    // process the next token.
+                    self.cur_items.extend(self.next_items.drain(..));
+                    parser.to_mut().bump();
+                }
 
-            (_, 0) => {
-                // Dump all possible `next_items` into `cur_items` for the next iteration. Then
-                // process the next token.
-                cur_items.extend(next_items.drain(..));
-                parser.to_mut().bump();
-            }
+                (0, 1) => {
+                    // We need to call the black-box parser to get some nonterminal.
+                    let mut item = self.bb_items.pop().unwrap();
+                    if let TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(span, _, Some(kind)) = item.top_elts[item.idx] {
+                        let match_cur = item.match_cur;
+                        // We use the span of the metavariable declaration to determine any
+                        // edition-specific matching behavior for non-terminals.
+                        let nt = match parser.to_mut().parse_nonterminal(kind) {
+                            Err(mut err) => {
+                                err.span_label(
+                                    span,
+                                    format!(
+                                        "while parsing argument for this `{kind}` macro fragment"
+                                    ),
+                                )
+                                .emit();
+                                return ErrorReported;
+                            }
+                            Ok(nt) => nt,
+                        };
+                        item.push_match(match_cur, MatchedNonterminal(Lrc::new(nt)));
+                        item.idx += 1;
+                        item.match_cur += 1;
+                    } else {
+                        unreachable!()
+                    }
+                    self.cur_items.push(item);
+                }
 
-            (0, 1) => {
-                // We need to call the black-box parser to get some nonterminal.
-                let mut item = bb_items.pop().unwrap();
-                if let TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(span, _, Some(kind)) = item.top_elts.get_tt(item.idx)
-                {
-                    let match_cur = item.match_cur;
-                    // We use the span of the metavariable declaration to determine any
-                    // edition-specific matching behavior for non-terminals.
-                    let nt = match parser.to_mut().parse_nonterminal(kind) {
-                        Err(mut err) => {
-                            err.span_label(
-                                span,
-                                format!("while parsing argument for this `{kind}` macro fragment"),
-                            )
-                            .emit();
-                            return ErrorReported;
-                        }
-                        Ok(nt) => nt,
-                    };
-                    item.push_match(match_cur, MatchedNonterminal(Lrc::new(nt)));
-                    item.idx += 1;
-                    item.match_cur += 1;
-                } else {
-                    unreachable!()
+                (_, _) => {
+                    // Too many possibilities!
+                    return self.ambiguity_error(parser.token.span);
                 }
-                cur_items.push(item);
             }
 
-            (_, _) => {
-                // Too many possibilities!
-                return bb_items_ambiguity_error(
-                    macro_name,
-                    next_items,
-                    bb_items,
-                    parser.token.span,
-                );
-            }
+            assert!(!self.cur_items.is_empty());
         }
-
-        assert!(!cur_items.is_empty());
     }
-}
 
-fn bb_items_ambiguity_error<'root, 'tt>(
-    macro_name: Ident,
-    next_items: SmallVec<[MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>; 1]>,
-    bb_items: SmallVec<[MatcherPosHandle<'root, 'tt>; 1]>,
-    token_span: rustc_span::Span,
-) -> NamedParseResult {
-    let nts = bb_items
-        .iter()
-        .map(|item| match item.top_elts.get_tt(item.idx) {
-            TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(_, bind, Some(kind)) => {
-                format!("{} ('{}')", kind, bind)
-            }
-            _ => panic!(),
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<String>>()
-        .join(" or ");
-
-    Error(
-        token_span,
-        format!(
-            "local ambiguity when calling macro `{macro_name}`: multiple parsing options: {}",
-            match next_items.len() {
-                0 => format!("built-in NTs {}.", nts),
-                1 => format!("built-in NTs {} or 1 other option.", nts),
-                n => format!("built-in NTs {} or {} other options.", nts, n),
-            }
-        ),
-    )
+    fn ambiguity_error(&self, token_span: rustc_span::Span) -> NamedParseResult {
+        let nts = self
+            .bb_items
+            .iter()
+            .map(|item| match item.top_elts[item.idx] {
+                TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(_, bind, Some(kind)) => {
+                    format!("{} ('{}')", kind, bind)
+                }
+                _ => panic!(),
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<String>>()
+            .join(" or ");
+
+        Error(
+            token_span,
+            format!(
+                "local ambiguity when calling macro `{}`: multiple parsing options: {}",
+                self.macro_name,
+                match self.next_items.len() {
+                    0 => format!("built-in NTs {}.", nts),
+                    1 => format!("built-in NTs {} or 1 other option.", nts),
+                    n => format!("built-in NTs {} or {} other options.", nts, n),
+                }
+            ),
+        )
+    }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_rules.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_rules.rs
index b93edf8da7a64..f13b97251d210 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_rules.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/macro_rules.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ use crate::base::{SyntaxExtension, SyntaxExtensionKind};
 use crate::expand::{ensure_complete_parse, parse_ast_fragment, AstFragment, AstFragmentKind};
 use crate::mbe;
 use crate::mbe::macro_check;
-use crate::mbe::macro_parser::parse_tt;
-use crate::mbe::macro_parser::{Error, ErrorReported, Failure, Success};
+use crate::mbe::macro_parser::{Error, ErrorReported, Failure, Success, TtParser};
 use crate::mbe::macro_parser::{MatchedNonterminal, MatchedSeq};
 use crate::mbe::transcribe::transcribe;
 
@@ -204,15 +203,15 @@ fn trace_macros_note(cx_expansions: &mut FxHashMap<Span, Vec<String>>, sp: Span,
 }
 
 /// Given `lhses` and `rhses`, this is the new macro we create
-fn generic_extension<'cx>(
+fn generic_extension<'cx, 'tt>(
     cx: &'cx mut ExtCtxt<'_>,
     sp: Span,
     def_span: Span,
     name: Ident,
     transparency: Transparency,
     arg: TokenStream,
-    lhses: &[mbe::TokenTree],
-    rhses: &[mbe::TokenTree],
+    lhses: &'tt [mbe::TokenTree],
+    rhses: &'tt [mbe::TokenTree],
     is_local: bool,
 ) -> Box<dyn MacResult + 'cx> {
     let sess = &cx.sess.parse_sess;
@@ -246,30 +245,30 @@ fn generic_extension<'cx>(
     // this situation.)
     let parser = parser_from_cx(sess, arg.clone());
 
-    for (i, lhs) in lhses.iter().enumerate() {
-        // try each arm's matchers
-        let lhs_tt = match *lhs {
-            mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delim) => &delim.tts,
+    // A matcher is always delimited, but the delimiters are ignored.
+    let delimited_inner_tts = |tt: &'tt mbe::TokenTree| -> &'tt [mbe::TokenTree] {
+        match tt {
+            mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, delimited) => delimited.inner_tts(),
             _ => cx.span_bug(sp, "malformed macro lhs"),
-        };
+        }
+    };
 
+    // Try each arm's matchers.
+    let mut tt_parser = TtParser::new(name);
+    for (i, lhs) in lhses.iter().enumerate() {
         // Take a snapshot of the state of pre-expansion gating at this point.
         // This is used so that if a matcher is not `Success(..)`ful,
         // then the spans which became gated when parsing the unsuccessful matcher
         // are not recorded. On the first `Success(..)`ful matcher, the spans are merged.
         let mut gated_spans_snapshot = mem::take(&mut *sess.gated_spans.spans.borrow_mut());
 
-        match parse_tt(&mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser), lhs_tt, name) {
+        match tt_parser.parse_tt(&mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser), delimited_inner_tts(lhs)) {
             Success(named_matches) => {
                 // The matcher was `Success(..)`ful.
                 // Merge the gated spans from parsing the matcher with the pre-existing ones.
                 sess.gated_spans.merge(gated_spans_snapshot);
 
-                let rhs = match rhses[i] {
-                    // ignore delimiters
-                    mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delimed) => delimed.tts.clone(),
-                    _ => cx.span_bug(sp, "malformed macro rhs"),
-                };
+                let rhs = delimited_inner_tts(&rhses[i]).to_vec().clone();
                 let arm_span = rhses[i].span();
 
                 let rhs_spans = rhs.iter().map(|t| t.span()).collect::<Vec<_>>();
@@ -347,14 +346,10 @@ fn generic_extension<'cx>(
     // Check whether there's a missing comma in this macro call, like `println!("{}" a);`
     if let Some((arg, comma_span)) = arg.add_comma() {
         for lhs in lhses {
-            // try each arm's matchers
-            let lhs_tt = match *lhs {
-                mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delim) => &delim.tts,
-                _ => continue,
-            };
-            if let Success(_) =
-                parse_tt(&mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser_from_cx(sess, arg.clone())), lhs_tt, name)
-            {
+            if let Success(_) = tt_parser.parse_tt(
+                &mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser_from_cx(sess, arg.clone())),
+                delimited_inner_tts(lhs),
+            ) {
                 if comma_span.is_dummy() {
                     err.note("you might be missing a comma");
                 } else {
@@ -447,7 +442,8 @@ pub fn compile_declarative_macro(
     ];
 
     let parser = Parser::new(&sess.parse_sess, body, true, rustc_parse::MACRO_ARGUMENTS);
-    let argument_map = match parse_tt(&mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser), &argument_gram, def.ident) {
+    let mut tt_parser = TtParser::new(def.ident);
+    let argument_map = match tt_parser.parse_tt(&mut Cow::Borrowed(&parser), &argument_gram) {
         Success(m) => m,
         Failure(token, msg) => {
             let s = parse_failure_msg(&token);
@@ -476,16 +472,17 @@ pub fn compile_declarative_macro(
             .map(|m| {
                 if let MatchedNonterminal(ref nt) = *m {
                     if let NtTT(ref tt) = **nt {
-                        let tt = mbe::quoted::parse(
+                        let mut tts = vec![];
+                        mbe::quoted::parse(
                             tt.clone().into(),
                             true,
                             &sess.parse_sess,
                             def.id,
                             features,
                             edition,
-                        )
-                        .pop()
-                        .unwrap();
+                            &mut tts,
+                        );
+                        let tt = tts.pop().unwrap();
                         valid &= check_lhs_nt_follows(&sess.parse_sess, features, &def, &tt);
                         return tt;
                     }
@@ -502,16 +499,17 @@ pub fn compile_declarative_macro(
             .map(|m| {
                 if let MatchedNonterminal(ref nt) = *m {
                     if let NtTT(ref tt) = **nt {
-                        return mbe::quoted::parse(
+                        let mut tts = vec![];
+                        mbe::quoted::parse(
                             tt.clone().into(),
                             false,
                             &sess.parse_sess,
                             def.id,
                             features,
                             edition,
-                        )
-                        .pop()
-                        .unwrap();
+                            &mut tts,
+                        );
+                        return tts.pop().unwrap();
                     }
                 }
                 sess.parse_sess.span_diagnostic.span_bug(def.span, "wrong-structured lhs")
@@ -563,8 +561,8 @@ fn check_lhs_nt_follows(
 ) -> bool {
     // lhs is going to be like TokenTree::Delimited(...), where the
     // entire lhs is those tts. Or, it can be a "bare sequence", not wrapped in parens.
-    if let mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref tts) = *lhs {
-        check_matcher(sess, features, def, &tts.tts)
+    if let mbe::TokenTree::Delimited(_, delimited) = lhs {
+        check_matcher(sess, features, def, delimited.inner_tts())
     } else {
         let msg = "invalid macro matcher; matchers must be contained in balanced delimiters";
         sess.span_diagnostic.span_err(lhs.span(), msg);
@@ -585,7 +583,7 @@ fn check_lhs_no_empty_seq(sess: &ParseSess, tts: &[mbe::TokenTree]) -> bool {
             | TokenTree::MetaVarDecl(..)
             | TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => (),
             TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref del) => {
-                if !check_lhs_no_empty_seq(sess, &del.tts) {
+                if !check_lhs_no_empty_seq(sess, del.inner_tts()) {
                     return false;
                 }
             }
@@ -680,9 +678,9 @@ impl FirstSets {
                     | TokenTree::MetaVarExpr(..) => {
                         first.replace_with(tt.clone());
                     }
-                    TokenTree::Delimited(span, ref delimited) => {
-                        build_recur(sets, &delimited.tts);
-                        first.replace_with(delimited.open_tt(span));
+                    TokenTree::Delimited(_span, ref delimited) => {
+                        build_recur(sets, delimited.inner_tts());
+                        first.replace_with(delimited.open_tt().clone());
                     }
                     TokenTree::Sequence(sp, ref seq_rep) => {
                         let subfirst = build_recur(sets, &seq_rep.tts);
@@ -746,8 +744,8 @@ impl FirstSets {
                     first.add_one(tt.clone());
                     return first;
                 }
-                TokenTree::Delimited(span, ref delimited) => {
-                    first.add_one(delimited.open_tt(span));
+                TokenTree::Delimited(_span, ref delimited) => {
+                    first.add_one(delimited.open_tt().clone());
                     return first;
                 }
                 TokenTree::Sequence(sp, ref seq_rep) => {
@@ -933,9 +931,9 @@ fn check_matcher_core(
                     suffix_first = build_suffix_first();
                 }
             }
-            TokenTree::Delimited(span, ref d) => {
-                let my_suffix = TokenSet::singleton(d.close_tt(span));
-                check_matcher_core(sess, features, def, first_sets, &d.tts, &my_suffix);
+            TokenTree::Delimited(_span, ref d) => {
+                let my_suffix = TokenSet::singleton(d.close_tt().clone());
+                check_matcher_core(sess, features, def, first_sets, d.inner_tts(), &my_suffix);
                 // don't track non NT tokens
                 last.replace_with_irrelevant();
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/quoted.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/quoted.rs
index 12c5dac9e0bf4..b3ed6b8e4db24 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/quoted.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/quoted.rs
@@ -45,10 +45,8 @@ pub(super) fn parse(
     node_id: NodeId,
     features: &Features,
     edition: Edition,
-) -> Vec<TokenTree> {
-    // Will contain the final collection of `self::TokenTree`
-    let mut result = Vec::new();
-
+    result: &mut Vec<TokenTree>,
+) {
     // For each token tree in `input`, parse the token into a `self::TokenTree`, consuming
     // additional trees if need be.
     let mut trees = input.trees();
@@ -115,7 +113,6 @@ pub(super) fn parse(
             _ => result.push(tree),
         }
     }
-    result
 }
 
 /// Asks for the `macro_metavar_expr` feature if it is not already declared
@@ -208,7 +205,8 @@ fn parse_tree(
                     // If we didn't find a metavar expression above, then we must have a
                     // repetition sequence in the macro (e.g. `$(pat)*`).  Parse the
                     // contents of the sequence itself
-                    let sequence = parse(tts, parsing_patterns, sess, node_id, features, edition);
+                    let mut sequence = vec![];
+                    parse(tts, parsing_patterns, sess, node_id, features, edition, &mut sequence);
                     // Get the Kleene operator and optional separator
                     let (separator, kleene) =
                         parse_sep_and_kleene_op(&mut trees, delim_span.entire(), sess);
@@ -225,8 +223,8 @@ fn parse_tree(
                     )
                 }
 
-                // `tree` is followed by an `ident`. This could be `$meta_var` or the `$crate` special
-                // metavariable that names the crate of the invocation.
+                // `tree` is followed by an `ident`. This could be `$meta_var` or the `$crate`
+                // special metavariable that names the crate of the invocation.
                 Some(tokenstream::TokenTree::Token(token)) if token.is_ident() => {
                     let (ident, is_raw) = token.ident().unwrap();
                     let span = ident.span.with_lo(span.lo());
@@ -270,13 +268,15 @@ fn parse_tree(
 
         // `tree` is the beginning of a delimited set of tokens (e.g., `(` or `{`). We need to
         // descend into the delimited set and further parse it.
-        tokenstream::TokenTree::Delimited(span, delim, tts) => TokenTree::Delimited(
-            span,
-            Lrc::new(Delimited {
-                delim,
-                tts: parse(tts, parsing_patterns, sess, node_id, features, edition),
-            }),
-        ),
+        tokenstream::TokenTree::Delimited(span, delim, tts) => {
+            let mut all_tts = vec![];
+            // Add the explicit open and close delimiters, which
+            // `tokenstream::TokenTree::Delimited` lacks.
+            all_tts.push(TokenTree::token(token::OpenDelim(delim), span.open));
+            parse(tts, parsing_patterns, sess, node_id, features, edition, &mut all_tts);
+            all_tts.push(TokenTree::token(token::CloseDelim(delim), span.close));
+            TokenTree::Delimited(span, Lrc::new(Delimited { delim, all_tts }))
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/transcribe.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/transcribe.rs
index 5ec63739cf574..6566338d44feb 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/transcribe.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/mbe/transcribe.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use rustc_errors::{pluralize, PResult};
 use rustc_errors::{DiagnosticBuilder, ErrorGuaranteed};
 use rustc_span::hygiene::{LocalExpnId, Transparency};
 use rustc_span::symbol::{sym, Ident, MacroRulesNormalizedIdent};
-use rustc_span::Span;
+use rustc_span::{Span, DUMMY_SP};
 
 use smallvec::{smallvec, SmallVec};
 use std::mem;
@@ -34,8 +34,14 @@ enum Frame {
 
 impl Frame {
     /// Construct a new frame around the delimited set of tokens.
-    fn new(tts: Vec<mbe::TokenTree>) -> Frame {
-        let forest = Lrc::new(mbe::Delimited { delim: token::NoDelim, tts });
+    fn new(mut tts: Vec<mbe::TokenTree>) -> Frame {
+        // Need to add empty delimeters.
+        let open_tt = mbe::TokenTree::token(token::OpenDelim(token::NoDelim), DUMMY_SP);
+        let close_tt = mbe::TokenTree::token(token::CloseDelim(token::NoDelim), DUMMY_SP);
+        tts.insert(0, open_tt);
+        tts.push(close_tt);
+
+        let forest = Lrc::new(mbe::Delimited { delim: token::NoDelim, all_tts: tts });
         Frame::Delimited { forest, idx: 0, span: DelimSpan::dummy() }
     }
 }
@@ -46,12 +52,14 @@ impl Iterator for Frame {
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<mbe::TokenTree> {
         match *self {
             Frame::Delimited { ref forest, ref mut idx, .. } => {
+                let res = forest.inner_tts().get(*idx).cloned();
                 *idx += 1;
-                forest.tts.get(*idx - 1).cloned()
+                res
             }
             Frame::Sequence { ref forest, ref mut idx, .. } => {
+                let res = forest.tts.get(*idx).cloned();
                 *idx += 1;
-                forest.tts.get(*idx - 1).cloned()
+                res
             }
         }
     }
@@ -376,8 +384,8 @@ fn lockstep_iter_size(
 ) -> LockstepIterSize {
     use mbe::TokenTree;
     match *tree {
-        TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delimed) => {
-            delimed.tts.iter().fold(LockstepIterSize::Unconstrained, |size, tt| {
+        TokenTree::Delimited(_, ref delimited) => {
+            delimited.inner_tts().iter().fold(LockstepIterSize::Unconstrained, |size, tt| {
                 size.with(lockstep_iter_size(tt, interpolations, repeats))
             })
         }