diff --git a/lib/liquid/context.rb b/lib/liquid/context.rb
index 2dcc6af..b341a31 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/context.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/context.rb
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ module Liquid
       @resource_limits  = resource_limits || ResourceLimits.new(Template.default_resource_limits)
       squash_instance_assigns_with_environments
 
-      @this_stack_used = false
-
       self.exception_renderer = Template.default_exception_renderer
       if rethrow_errors
         self.exception_renderer = ->(e) { raise }
@@ -111,19 +109,26 @@ module Liquid
     #   end
     #
     #   context['var]  #=> nil
-    def stack(new_scope = nil)
-      old_stack_used = @this_stack_used
-      if new_scope
-        push(new_scope)
-        @this_stack_used = true
-      else
-        @this_stack_used = false
-      end
-
+    #
+    # false or {} can be used to control if a new scope is needed
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #   new_scope = false
+    #   context.stack(new_scope) do
+    #      # no scope created
+    #   end
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #   new_scope = {}
+    #   context.stack(new_scope) do
+    #      # scope created
+    #   end
+    #
+    def stack(new_scope = {})
+      push(new_scope) unless new_scope == false
       yield
     ensure
-      pop if @this_stack_used
-      @this_stack_used = old_stack_used
+      pop unless new_scope == false
     end
 
     def clear_instance_assigns
@@ -132,10 +137,6 @@ module Liquid
 
     # Only allow String, Numeric, Hash, Array, Proc, Boolean or <tt>Liquid::Drop</tt>
     def []=(key, value)
-      unless @this_stack_used
-        @this_stack_used = true
-        push({})
-      end
       @scopes[0][key] = value
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/liquid/tags/case.rb b/lib/liquid/tags/case.rb
index 92b2ed0..e167b9d 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/tags/case.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/tags/case.rb
@@ -39,16 +39,14 @@ module Liquid
     end
 
     def render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-      context.stack do
-        execute_else_block = true
+      execute_else_block = true
 
-        @blocks.each do |block|
-          if block.else?
-            block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output) if execute_else_block
-          elsif block.evaluate(context)
-            execute_else_block = false
-            block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-          end
+      @blocks.each do |block|
+        if block.else?
+          block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output) if execute_else_block
+        elsif block.evaluate(context)
+          execute_else_block = false
+          block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/liquid/tags/cycle.rb b/lib/liquid/tags/cycle.rb
index e42244d..8c11d37 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/tags/cycle.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/tags/cycle.rb
@@ -34,25 +34,23 @@ module Liquid
     def render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
       context.registers[:cycle] ||= {}
 
-      context.stack do
-        key = context.evaluate(@name)
-        iteration = context.registers[:cycle][key].to_i
+      key = context.evaluate(@name)
+      iteration = context.registers[:cycle][key].to_i
 
-        val = context.evaluate(@variables[iteration])
+      val = context.evaluate(@variables[iteration])
 
-        if val.is_a?(Array)
-          val = val.join
-        elsif !val.is_a?(String)
-          val = val.to_s
-        end
-
-        output << val
-
-        iteration += 1
-        iteration  = 0 if iteration >= @variables.size
-        context.registers[:cycle][key] = iteration
+      if val.is_a?(Array)
+        val = val.join
+      elsif !val.is_a?(String)
+        val = val.to_s
       end
 
+      output << val
+
+      iteration += 1
+      iteration  = 0 if iteration >= @variables.size
+      context.registers[:cycle][key] = iteration
+
       output
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/liquid/tags/if.rb b/lib/liquid/tags/if.rb
index 25534a9..709cf7f 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/tags/if.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/tags/if.rb
@@ -40,11 +40,9 @@ module Liquid
     end
 
     def render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-      context.stack do
-        @blocks.each do |block|
-          if block.evaluate(context)
-            return block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-          end
+      @blocks.each do |block|
+        if block.evaluate(context)
+          return block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/liquid/tags/ifchanged.rb b/lib/liquid/tags/ifchanged.rb
index e3040ce..ddd276c 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/tags/ifchanged.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/tags/ifchanged.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 module Liquid
   class Ifchanged < Block
     def render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-      context.stack do
-        block_output = ''
-        super(context, block_output)
+      block_output = ''
+      super(context, block_output)
 
-        if block_output != context.registers[:ifchanged]
-          context.registers[:ifchanged] = block_output
-          output << block_output
-        end
+      if block_output != context.registers[:ifchanged]
+        context.registers[:ifchanged] = block_output
+        output << block_output
       end
 
       output
diff --git a/lib/liquid/tags/unless.rb b/lib/liquid/tags/unless.rb
index 18856c3..32aa3a4 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/tags/unless.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/tags/unless.rb
@@ -7,18 +7,16 @@ module Liquid
   #
   class Unless < If
     def render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-      context.stack do
-        # First condition is interpreted backwards ( if not )
-        first_block = @blocks.first
-        unless first_block.evaluate(context)
-          return first_block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-        end
+      # First condition is interpreted backwards ( if not )
+      first_block = @blocks.first
+      unless first_block.evaluate(context)
+        return first_block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
+      end
 
-        # After the first condition unless works just like if
-        @blocks[1..-1].each do |block|
-          if block.evaluate(context)
-            return block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
-          end
+      # After the first condition unless works just like if
+      @blocks[1..-1].each do |block|
+        if block.evaluate(context)
+          return block.attachment.render_to_output_buffer(context, output)
         end
       end