diff --git a/src/vm.c b/src/vm.c
index 7dc788cc..8e2ddb6c 100644
--- a/src/vm.c
+++ b/src/vm.c
@@ -712,6 +712,15 @@ pic_apply(pic_state *pic, struct pic_proc *proc, pic_value argv)
     L_CALL:
       x = pic->sp[-c.u.i];
       if (! pic_proc_p(x)) {
+
+        if (pic_var_p(x)) {
+          if (c.u.i != 1) {
+            pic_errorf(pic, "invalid call-sequence for var object");
+          }
+          POP();
+          PUSH(pic_var_ref(pic, pic_var_ptr(x)));
+          NEXT;
+        }
 	pic_errorf(pic, "invalid application: ~s", x);
       }
       proc = pic_proc_ptr(x);