diff --git a/compiler/gengo/gengo.go b/compiler/gengo/gengo.go
index 19f5aa1..78a13a1 100644
--- a/compiler/gengo/gengo.go
+++ b/compiler/gengo/gengo.go
@@ -568,7 +568,12 @@ func (g *Generator) emitStmt(stmt ast.Stmt, locals localMap) {
 				g.writeln("if idx, ok := area.(hbrdd.Indexer); ok {")
 				g.indent++
 				if fileStr != "" {
-					g.writeln(fmt.Sprintf(`idx.OrderListAdd(%q)`, fileStr))
+					// Strip surrounding quotes from string literals
+					clean := fileStr
+					if len(clean) >= 2 && clean[0] == '"' && clean[len(clean)-1] == '"' {
+						clean = clean[1 : len(clean)-1]
+					}
+					g.writeln(fmt.Sprintf(`idx.OrderListAdd(%q)`, clean))
 				} else {
 					g.emitExpr(s.Expr)
 					g.writeln(`idx.OrderListAdd(t.Pop2().AsString())`)
diff --git a/hbrdd/ntx/build.go b/hbrdd/ntx/build.go
index 22e6279..3f1e146 100644
--- a/hbrdd/ntx/build.go
+++ b/hbrdd/ntx/build.go
@@ -32,8 +32,15 @@ func CreateIndex(path string, keyExpr string, keyLen int, unique bool, descend b
 	maxItem := calculateMaxItems(itemSize)
 	halfPage := maxItem / 2
 
+	// Determine tree depth: if 3+ levels needed, use per-key insertion
+	// for correct B-tree structure. Bulk build only for ≤2 levels.
+	nLeafPages := (len(keys) + maxItem - 1) / maxItem
+	if nLeafPages == 0 {
+		nLeafPages = 1
+	}
+	use3LevelFallback := nLeafPages > maxItem+1
+
 	// Bulk build: all pages in memory buffer, single write at end.
-	// Ported from rddfive/ntx_engine.c fa_ntx_create().
 	var buf pageBuffer
 	buf.init()
 
@@ -166,9 +173,63 @@ func CreateIndex(path string, keyExpr string, keyLen int, unique bool, descend b
 	}
 
 	f.Close()
+
+	if use3LevelFallback && len(keys) > 0 {
+		// 3+ level tree: rebuild using per-key insertion for correct B-tree
+		return rebuildWithInsert(path, keyExpr, keyLen, unique, descend, keys)
+	}
+
 	return OpenIndex(path)
 }
 
+// rebuildWithInsert creates an NTX using per-key insertion (proper B-tree).
+// Used for 3+ level trees where bulk build has separator duplication issues.
+func rebuildWithInsert(path, keyExpr string, keyLen int, unique, descend bool, keys []KeyRecord) (*Index, error) {
+	itemSize := 8 + keyLen
+	maxItem := calculateMaxItems(itemSize)
+	halfPage := maxItem / 2
+
+	f, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	rootOff := int64(HeaderSize)
+	emptyRoot := [BlockSize]byte{}
+	initPageOffsets(emptyRoot[:], maxItem, itemSize)
+
+	hdr := Header{
+		Type: 0x0401, Version: 1,
+		Root: uint32(rootOff), NextPage: uint32(rootOff + BlockSize),
+		ItemSize: uint16(itemSize), KeySize: uint16(keyLen),
+		MaxItem: uint16(maxItem), HalfPage: uint16(halfPage),
+	}
+	copy(hdr.KeyExpr[:], keyExpr)
+	if unique {
+		hdr.Unique = 1
+	}
+	if descend {
+		hdr.Descend = 1
+	}
+	WriteHeader(f, &hdr)
+	f.WriteAt(emptyRoot[:], rootOff)
+	f.Close()
+
+	idx, err := OpenIndex(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for _, kr := range keys {
+		k := make([]byte, keyLen)
+		copy(k, kr.Key)
+		if err := idx.insertKeyBTree(k, kr.RecNo); err != nil {
+			idx.Close()
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return idx, nil
+}
+
 // --- Bulk build buffer (ported from rddfive/ntx_engine.c) ---
 
 type pageBuffer struct {