diff --git a/lib/hawk.h b/lib/hawk.h
index 8e458f9d..e99c933a 100644
--- a/lib/hawk.h
+++ b/lib/hawk.h
@@ -433,7 +433,9 @@ enum hawk_nde_type_t
 	HAWK_NDE_MBS,
 	HAWK_NDE_REX,
 	HAWK_NDE_XNIL,
-	HAWK_NDE_XARG,
+	HAWK_NDE_XARGC,
+	HAWK_NDE_XARGV,
+	HAWK_NDE_XARGVIDX,
 	HAWK_NDE_FUN,
 
 	/* keep this order for the following items otherwise, you may have
diff --git a/lib/parse.c b/lib/parse.c
index 386c074b..c8db72ee 100644
--- a/lib/parse.c
+++ b/lib/parse.c
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ static hawk_nde_t* parse_function (hawk_t* hawk)
 	hawk_fun_t* fun = HAWK_NULL;
 	hawk_ooch_t* argspec = HAWK_NULL;
 	hawk_oow_t argspeccapa = 0;
-	hawk_oow_t argspeclen;
+	hawk_oow_t argspeclen = 0;
 	hawk_oow_t nargs, g;
 	int variadic = 0;
 	hawk_htb_pair_t* pair;
@@ -4086,9 +4086,9 @@ static hawk_nde_t* parse_in (hawk_t* hawk, const hawk_loc_t* xloc)
 		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!right))  goto oops;
 
 	#if defined(HAWK_ENABLE_GC)
-		if (!is_var(right))
+		if (!is_var(right) && right->type != HAWK_NDE_XARGV)
 	#else
-		if (!is_plain_var(right))
+		if (!is_plain_var(right) && right->type != HAWK_NDE_XARGV)
 	#endif
 		{
 			hawk_seterrnum (hawk, &rloc, HAWK_ENOTVAR);
@@ -5118,55 +5118,84 @@ oops:
 
 static hawk_nde_t* parse_primary_xarg (hawk_t* hawk, const hawk_loc_t* xloc)
 {
-	hawk_nde_xarg_t* nde = HAWK_NULL;
+	hawk_nde_t* nde = HAWK_NULL;
 	hawk_nde_t* pos = HAWK_NULL;
-	int opcode;
+	int nde_type;
+
+	/* @argc, @argv, @argv[] look like the standard ARGC and ARGV but form special constructs
+	 * for function arguments. this is useful when combined with the variadic function arguments.
+	 * it can't be used in assignment, delete, reset, in many other context, however.
+	 * when used in the main entry point function, @argc is the number of arguments to the
+	 * function but ARGC is the number of arguments including the program name so ARGC is greater
+	 * than @argc by 1. */
 
 	HAWK_ASSERT (hawk->tok.type == TOK_XARGV || hawk->tok.type == TOK_XARGC);
 
-	opcode = (hawk->tok.type == TOK_XARGC); /* @argv: 1 @argv: 2 */
-
-	if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
-	if (!MATCH(hawk,TOK_LPAREN))
-	{
-		hawk_seterrfmt (hawk,  &hawk->tok.loc, HAWK_ELPAREN, FMT_ELPAREN, HAWK_OOECS_LEN(hawk->tok.name), HAWK_OOECS_PTR(hawk->tok.name));
-		goto oops;
-	}
-	if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
-
-	if (opcode == 0)
+	if (hawk->tok.type == TOK_XARGV)
 	{
 		/* @argv */
-		hawk_loc_t eloc;
-		eloc = hawk->tok.loc;
-		pos = parse_expr_withdc(hawk, &eloc);
-		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!pos)) goto oops;
-	}
+		nde_type = HAWK_NDE_XARGV;
+		if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
 
-	if (!MATCH(hawk,TOK_RPAREN))
+		if (MATCH(hawk,TOK_LBRACK)) /* @argv[, expecting to see @argv[expr] */
+		{
+			hawk_loc_t eloc;
+
+			if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
+
+			eloc = hawk->tok.loc;
+			pos = parse_expr_withdc(hawk, &eloc);
+			if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!pos)) goto oops;
+
+			if (!MATCH(hawk,TOK_RBRACK))
+			{
+				hawk_seterrfmt (hawk,  &hawk->tok.loc, HAWK_ERBRACK, FMT_ERBRACK, HAWK_OOECS_LEN(hawk->tok.name), HAWK_OOECS_PTR(hawk->tok.name));
+				goto oops;
+			}
+
+			if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
+		}
+	}
+	else
 	{
-		hawk_seterrfmt (hawk,  &hawk->tok.loc, HAWK_ERPAREN, FMT_ERPAREN, HAWK_OOECS_LEN(hawk->tok.name), HAWK_OOECS_PTR(hawk->tok.name));
-		goto oops;
+		nde_type = HAWK_NDE_XARGC;
+		if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
 	}
 
-	if (get_token(hawk) <= -1) goto oops;
-
-	nde = (hawk_nde_xarg_t*)hawk_callocmem(hawk, HAWK_SIZEOF(*nde));
-	if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!nde))
+	if (pos)
 	{
-		ADJERR_LOC (hawk, xloc);
-		return HAWK_NULL;
-	}
+		hawk_nde_xargvidx_t* xargvidx;
 
-	nde->type = HAWK_NDE_XARG;
-	nde->loc = *xloc;
-	nde->opcode = opcode;
-	nde->pos = pos;
+		xargvidx = (hawk_nde_xargvidx_t*)hawk_callocmem(hawk, HAWK_SIZEOF(*xargvidx));
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!xargvidx))
+		{
+			ADJERR_LOC (hawk, xloc);
+			return HAWK_NULL;
+		}
+
+		xargvidx->type = HAWK_NDE_XARGVIDX;
+		xargvidx->loc = *xloc;
+		xargvidx->pos = pos;
+
+		nde = (hawk_nde_t*)xargvidx;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		nde = hawk_callocmem(hawk, HAWK_SIZEOF(*nde));
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!nde))
+		{
+			ADJERR_LOC (hawk, xloc);
+			return HAWK_NULL;
+		}
+
+		nde->type = nde_type;
+		nde->loc = *xloc;
+	}
 
 	return (hawk_nde_t*)nde;
 
 oops:
-	if (nde) hawk_freemem (hawk, nde); /* tricky to call hawk_clrpt() on nde due to var and pos */
+	if (nde) hawk_freemem (hawk, nde); /* tricky to call hawk_clrpt() on nde due to pos */
 	if (pos) hawk_clrpt (hawk, pos);
 	return HAWK_NULL;
 }
@@ -7343,7 +7372,11 @@ static hawk_htb_walk_t deparse_func (hawk_htb_t* map, hawk_htb_pair_t* pair, voi
 		PUT_S (df, HAWK_T(", "));
 	}
 
-	if (fun->variadic) PUT_S(df, HAWK_T(" ..."));
+	if (fun->variadic)
+	{
+		if (fun->nargs > 0) PUT_S (df, HAWK_T(", "));
+		PUT_S(df, HAWK_T("..."));
+	}
 
 	PUT_S (df, HAWK_T(")"));
 	if (df->hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_CRLF) PUT_C (df, HAWK_T('\r'));
diff --git a/lib/run.c b/lib/run.c
index 8572e722..97f62ba6 100644
--- a/lib/run.c
+++ b/lib/run.c
@@ -163,7 +163,9 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_str (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_mbs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_rex (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_xnil (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
-static hawk_val_t* eval_xarg (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargv (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargvidx (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_fun (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_named (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
 static hawk_val_t* eval_gbl (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde);
@@ -3708,7 +3710,9 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_expression0 (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 		eval_mbs,
 		eval_rex,
 		eval_xnil,
-		eval_xarg,
+		eval_xargc,
+		eval_xargv,
+		eval_xargvidx,
 		eval_fun,
 		eval_named,
 		eval_gbl,
@@ -4496,6 +4500,8 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_binop_in (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* left, hawk_nde_t*
 	hawk_nde_t* remidx;
 	hawk_int_t idxint;
 
+	if (right->type == HAWK_NDE_XARGV) goto rvalue_ok;
+
 #if defined(HAWK_ENABLE_GC)
 	if (right->type < HAWK_NDE_NAMED || right->type > HAWK_NDE_ARGIDX)
 #else
@@ -4508,6 +4514,7 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_binop_in (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* left, hawk_nde_t*
 		return HAWK_NULL;
 	}
 
+rvalue_ok:
 	/* evaluate the left-hand side of the operator */
 	len = HAWK_COUNTOF(idxbuf);
 	str = (left->type == HAWK_NDE_GRP)? /* it is inefficinet to call idxnde_to_str() for an array. but i don't know if the right hand side is a map or an array yet */
@@ -7473,38 +7480,59 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_xnil (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 	return hawk_rtx_makenilval(rtx); /* this never fails */
 }
 
-static hawk_val_t* eval_xarg (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	hawk_nde_xarg_t* xarg;
+	hawk_int_t nargs = (hawk_int_t)hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx);
+	return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, nargs);
+}
 
-	xarg = (hawk_nde_xarg_t*)nde;
-	if (xarg->opcode == 0)
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargv (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
+{
+	/* this create a new array. referencing @argv without a subscript
+	 * slows hawk. TODO: fix this issue */
+	hawk_oow_t nargs, i;
+	hawk_val_t* v;
+
+	nargs = hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx);
+	v = hawk_rtx_makearrval(rtx, nargs);
+	if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v)) return HAWK_NULL;
+
+	hawk_rtx_refupval (rtx,v);
+	for (i = 0; i < nargs; i++)
 	{
-		/* @argv */
-		hawk_val_t* v;
-		hawk_int_t pos;
-		int n;
-
-		v = eval_expression(rtx, xarg->pos);
-		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v)) return HAWK_NULL;
-
-		hawk_rtx_refupval (rtx, v);
-		n = hawk_rtx_valtoint(rtx, v, &pos);
-		hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, v);
-		if (n <= -1)
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!hawk_rtx_setarrvalfld(rtx, v, i, hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, i))))
 		{
-			hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, &xarg->pos->loc, HAWK_EPOSIDX);
+			hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, v);
 			return HAWK_NULL;
 		}
+	}
 
-		return (pos < 0 || pos >= hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx))? hawk_rtx_makenilval(rtx): hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, pos);
-	}
-	else
+	hawk_rtx_refdownval_nofree (rtx,v);
+	return v;
+}
+
+static hawk_val_t* eval_xargvidx (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
+{
+	hawk_nde_xargvidx_t* xarg;
+	hawk_val_t* v;
+	hawk_int_t pos;
+	int n;
+
+	xarg = (hawk_nde_xargvidx_t*)nde;
+
+	v = eval_expression(rtx, xarg->pos);
+	if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v)) return HAWK_NULL;
+
+	hawk_rtx_refupval (rtx, v);
+	n = hawk_rtx_valtoint(rtx, v, &pos);
+	hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, v);
+	if (n <= -1)
 	{
-		/* @argc */
-		hawk_int_t nargs = (hawk_int_t)hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx);
-		return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, nargs);
+		hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, &xarg->pos->loc, HAWK_EPOSIDX);
+		return HAWK_NULL;
 	}
+
+	return (pos < 0 || pos >= hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx))? hawk_rtx_makenilval(rtx): hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, pos);
 }
 
 static hawk_val_t* eval_fun (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
diff --git a/lib/tree-prv.h b/lib/tree-prv.h
index fbacedf0..1086f9ec 100644
--- a/lib/tree-prv.h
+++ b/lib/tree-prv.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ typedef struct hawk_nde_mbs_t       hawk_nde_mbs_t;
 typedef struct hawk_nde_rex_t       hawk_nde_rex_t;
 typedef struct hawk_nde_fun_t       hawk_nde_fun_t;
 typedef struct hawk_nde_xnil_t      hawk_nde_xnil_t;
-typedef struct hawk_nde_xarg_t      hawk_nde_xarg_t;
+typedef struct hawk_nde_xargvidx_t  hawk_nde_xargvidx_t;
 
 typedef struct hawk_nde_var_t       hawk_nde_var_t;
 typedef struct hawk_nde_fncall_t    hawk_nde_fncall_t;
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ struct hawk_nde_str_t
 {
 	HAWK_NDE_HDR;
 	hawk_ooch_t* ptr;
-	hawk_oow_t len;
+	hawk_oow_t   len;
 };
 
 /* HAWK_NDE_MBS */
@@ -186,15 +186,15 @@ struct hawk_nde_mbs_t
 {
 	HAWK_NDE_HDR;
 	hawk_bch_t* ptr;
-	hawk_oow_t   len;
+	hawk_oow_t  len;
 };
 
 /* HAWK_NDE_REX */
 struct hawk_nde_rex_t
 {
 	HAWK_NDE_HDR;
-	hawk_oocs_t  str;
-	hawk_tre_t*  code[2]; /* [0]: case sensitive, [1]: case insensitive */
+	hawk_oocs_t str;
+	hawk_tre_t* code[2]; /* [0]: case sensitive, [1]: case insensitive */
 };
 
 struct hawk_nde_xnil_t
@@ -202,10 +202,9 @@ struct hawk_nde_xnil_t
 	HAWK_NDE_HDR;
 };
 
-struct hawk_nde_xarg_t
+struct hawk_nde_xargvidx_t
 {
 	HAWK_NDE_HDR;
-	int opcode; /* 0: @argc, 1: @argv  */
 	hawk_nde_t* pos;
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/tree.c b/lib/tree.c
index eaeaf2ed..63bf6a87 100644
--- a/lib/tree.c
+++ b/lib/tree.c
@@ -554,16 +554,23 @@ static int print_expr (hawk_t* hawk, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		case HAWK_NDE_XARG:
+		case HAWK_NDE_XARGC:
 		{
-			static hawk_ooch_t* xarg_str[] =
-			{
-				HAWK_T("@argv("),
-				HAWK_T("@argc("),
-			};
-			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, xarg_str[((hawk_nde_xarg_t*)nde)->opcode % 2]);
-			if (((hawk_nde_xarg_t*)nde)->pos) PRINT_EXPR (hawk, ((hawk_nde_xarg_t*)nde)->pos);
-			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, HAWK_T(")"));
+			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, HAWK_T("@argc"));
+			break;
+		}
+
+		case HAWK_NDE_XARGV:
+		{
+			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, HAWK_T("@argv"));
+			break;
+		}
+
+		case HAWK_NDE_XARGVIDX:
+		{
+			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, HAWK_T("@argv["));
+			PRINT_EXPR (hawk, ((hawk_nde_xargvidx_t*)nde)->pos);
+			PUT_SRCSTR (hawk, HAWK_T("]"));
 			break;
 		}
 
@@ -1467,10 +1474,16 @@ void hawk_clrpt (hawk_t* hawk, hawk_nde_t* tree)
 				break;
 			}
 
-			case HAWK_NDE_XARG:
+			case HAWK_NDE_XARGC:
+			case HAWK_NDE_XARGV:
 			{
-				if (((hawk_nde_xarg_t*)p)->pos) /* pos is null for @argc */
-					hawk_clrpt (hawk, ((hawk_nde_xarg_t*)p)->pos);
+				hawk_freemem (hawk, p);
+				break;
+			}
+
+			case HAWK_NDE_XARGVIDX:
+			{
+				hawk_clrpt (hawk, ((hawk_nde_xargvidx_t*)p)->pos);
 				hawk_freemem (hawk, p);
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/lib/val.c b/lib/val.c
index 490fc74a..e9539e8b 100644
--- a/lib/val.c
+++ b/lib/val.c
@@ -1069,7 +1069,7 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makerexval (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_oocs_t* str, hawk_t
 
 /* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-static void free_arrayval (hawk_arr_t* arr, void* dptr, hawk_oow_t dlen)
+static void free_arrval (hawk_arr_t* arr, void* dptr, hawk_oow_t dlen)
 {
 	hawk_rtx_t* rtx = *(hawk_rtx_t**)hawk_arr_getxtn(arr);
 	hawk_val_t* v = (hawk_val_t*)dptr;
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ static void free_arrayval (hawk_arr_t* arr, void* dptr, hawk_oow_t dlen)
 	hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, v);
 }
 
-static void same_arrayval (hawk_arr_t* map, void* dptr, hawk_oow_t dlen)
+static void same_arrval (hawk_arr_t* map, void* dptr, hawk_oow_t dlen)
 {
 	hawk_rtx_t* rtx = *(hawk_rtx_t**)hawk_arr_getxtn(map);
 #if defined(DEBUG_VAL)
@@ -1111,9 +1111,9 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makearrval (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_ooi_t init_capa)
 	 * freeing the actual value is handled by free_arrval and same_arrval */
 
 		HAWK_ARR_COPIER_DEFAULT,
-		free_arrayval,
+		free_arrval,
 		HAWK_ARR_COMPER_DEFAULT,
-		same_arrayval,
+		same_arrval,
 		HAWK_ARR_SIZER_DEFAULT
 	};
 #if defined(HAWK_ENABLE_GC)
diff --git a/mod/mod-uci.c b/mod/mod-uci.c
index 919d9e72..0f1df270 100644
--- a/mod/mod-uci.c
+++ b/mod/mod-uci.c
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ static int getoption_byid (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, uctx_list_t* list, hawk_int_t id, ha
 						{
 							int n;
 							hawk_rtx_refupval (rtx, map);
-							n = hawk_rtx_setrefval (rtx, ref, map);
+							n = hawk_rtx_setrefval(rtx, ref, map);
 							hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, map);
 							if (n <= -1)
 							{
diff --git a/t/h-002.hawk b/t/h-002.hawk
index 47879d82..8011f79b 100644
--- a/t/h-002.hawk
+++ b/t/h-002.hawk
@@ -643,8 +643,15 @@ function main()
 		tap_ensure (RLENGTH, 2, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
 
 		tap_ensure (test5(10, 20, 30),  10, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
-		tap_ensure (test6(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),  54, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
-		tap_ensure (test7(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),  55, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test6(),  2, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test6(11, 11, 11),  3, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test7(),  0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test7(11, 11, 11),  3, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test8(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),  54, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test9(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),  55, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test10(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),  55, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test11("aa", "bb", "cc"),  0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+		tap_ensure (test11("aa", "bb", "cc", "dd"),  1, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
 	}
 	tap_end ();
 }
@@ -658,16 +665,35 @@ function test5(a, b, ...) {
 	return a;
 }
 
-function test6(a, ...) {
-	@local i, x
-	x = 0
-	for (i = 0; i < @argc(); i++) x += @argv(i);
-	return x - a;
+function test6(a, b, ...) {
+	return @argc;
 }
 
 function test7(...) {
+	return @argc;
+}
+
+function test8(a, ...) {
 	@local i, x
 	x = 0
-	for (i = 0; i < @argc(); i++) x += @argv(i);
+	for (i = 0; i < @argc; i++) x += @argv[i];
+	return x - a;
+}
+
+function test9(...) {
+	@local i, x
+	x = 0
+	for (i = 0; i < @argc; i++) x += @argv[i];
 	return x;
 }
+
+function test10(...) {
+	@local i, x
+	x = 0
+	for (i in @argv) x += @argv[i];
+	return x;
+}
+
+function test11(...) {
+	return (3 in @argv);
+}