diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk.c b/hawk/lib/hawk.c
index 8e5bc0b0..2f7d2845 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk.c
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ int hawk_findmodsymfnc_noseterr (hawk_t* hawk, hawk_mod_fnc_tab_t* fnctab, hawk_
 		if (n == 0) 
 		{
 			sym->type = HAWK_MOD_FNC;
+			sym->name = fnctab[mid].name;
 			sym->u.fnc_ = fnctab[mid].info;
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -651,6 +652,7 @@ int hawk_findmodsymint_noseterr (hawk_t* hawk, hawk_mod_int_tab_t* inttab, hawk_
 		if (n == 0) 
 		{
 			sym->type = HAWK_MOD_INT;
+			sym->name = inttab[mid].name;
 			sym->u.int_ = inttab[mid].info;
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -674,6 +676,7 @@ int hawk_findmodsymflt_noseterr (hawk_t* hawk, hawk_mod_flt_tab_t* flttab, hawk_
 		if (n == 0) 
 		{
 			sym->type = HAWK_MOD_FLT;
+			sym->name = flttab[mid].name;
 			sym->u.flt_ = flttab[mid].info;
 			return 0;
 		}
diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk.h b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
index da2d5fa0..0dd42fe3 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk.h
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
@@ -1041,6 +1041,7 @@ struct hawk_mod_sym_flt_t
 struct hawk_mod_sym_t
 {
 	hawk_mod_sym_type_t type; 
+	const hawk_ooch_t* name;
 	union
 	{
 		hawk_mod_sym_fnc_t fnc_;
@@ -1807,7 +1808,7 @@ HAWK_EXPORT int hawk_findgblwithucstr (
  */
 HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fnc_t* hawk_addfncwithbcstr (
 	hawk_t*                 hawk,
-	const hawk_bch_t*         name,
+	const hawk_bch_t*       name,
 	const hawk_fnc_mspec_t* spec
 );
 
@@ -1816,7 +1817,7 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fnc_t* hawk_addfncwithbcstr (
  */
 HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fnc_t* hawk_addfncwithucstr (
 	hawk_t*                 hawk,
-	const hawk_uch_t*         name,
+	const hawk_uch_t*       name,
 	const hawk_fnc_wspec_t* spec
 );
 
@@ -1825,7 +1826,7 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fnc_t* hawk_addfncwithucstr (
  * \return 0 on success, -1 on failure
  */
 HAWK_EXPORT int hawk_delfncwithbcstr (
-	hawk_t*         hawk,  /**< hawk */
+	hawk_t*           hawk,  /**< hawk */
 	const hawk_bch_t* name  /**< function name */
 );
 
@@ -1834,7 +1835,7 @@ HAWK_EXPORT int hawk_delfncwithbcstr (
  * \return 0 on success, -1 on failure
  */
 HAWK_EXPORT int hawk_delfncwithucstr (
-	hawk_t*         hawk,  /**< hawk */
+	hawk_t*           hawk,  /**< hawk */
 	const hawk_uch_t* name  /**< function name */
 );
 
@@ -3381,10 +3382,19 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fun_t* hawk_rtx_valtofun (
 	hawk_val_t* val
 );
 
-HAWK_EXPORT hawk_mod_t* hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc (
-	hawk_rtx_t*      rtx, 
-	hawk_val_t*      val,
-	hawk_fnc_spec_t* spec
+/** 
+ * The hawk_rtx_valtofnc() function finds an intrinsic function by the name
+ * pointed to by \a val. Unlike hawk_findfncwithoocstr() and the like,
+ * it accepts a function name prefixed with a module name and find an intrinsic
+ * function located in a module. In principle, it combines hawk_findfncwithoocstr()
+ * and hawk_querymodulewithname().
+ *
+ * \return \a fnc on success, #HAWK_NULL on failure
+ */
+HAWK_EXPORT hawk_fnc_t* hawk_rtx_valtofnc (
+	hawk_rtx_t*  rtx, 
+	hawk_val_t*  val,
+	hawk_fnc_t*  fnc  /**< buffer to hold the function information */
 );
 
 /**
diff --git a/hawk/lib/mod-hawk.c b/hawk/lib/mod-hawk.c
index d0e524e0..eb0163ea 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/mod-hawk.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/mod-hawk.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ static hawk_oow_t push_args_from_stack (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_fncall_t* call
 static int fnc_call (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_fnc_info_t* fi)
 {
 	hawk_fun_t* fun;
-	hawk_oow_t nargs;
+	hawk_oow_t nargs, f_nargs;
 	hawk_nde_fncall_t call;
 	struct pafs_t pafs;
 	hawk_val_t* v;
@@ -112,11 +112,12 @@ static int fnc_call (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_fnc_info_t* fi)
 	/* this function is similar to hawk_rtx_callfun() but it is more simplified */
 	HAWK_MEMSET (&call, 0, HAWK_SIZEOF(call));
 	nargs = hawk_rtx_getnargs(rtx);
+	f_nargs = nargs - 1;
 
 	fun = hawk_rtx_valtofun(rtx, hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, 0));
 	if (fun) 
 	{
-		if (nargs - 1 > fun->nargs)
+		if (f_nargs > fun->nargs)
 		{
 			hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_EARGTM);
 			return -1; /* hard failure */
@@ -133,30 +134,40 @@ static int fnc_call (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_fnc_info_t* fi)
 	else
 	{
 		/* find the name in the modules */
-		hawk_mod_t* m;
+		hawk_fnc_t fnc, * fncp;
 		mod_data_t* md;
 
-// TODO: find normal fnc too.
 		md = (mod_data_t*)fi->mod->ctx;
-		/* hawk_querymodulewithname() may update some shared data under
-		 * the hawk object. use a mutex for shared data safety */
-		hawk_mtx_lock (&md->mq_mtx, HAWK_NULL);
-		m = hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc(rtx, hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, 0), &call.u.fnc.spec);
-		hawk_mtx_unlock (&md->mq_mtx);
 
-		if (!m) return -1; /* hard failure */
+		/* hawk_querymodulewithname() called by hawk_rtx_valtofnc()
+		 * may update some shared data under the hawk object. 
+		 * use a mutex for shared data safety */
+		/* TODO: this mutex protection is wrong in that if a call to hawk_querymodulewithname()
+		 *       is made outside this hawk module, the call is not protected under
+		 *       the same mutex. FIX THIS */
+		hawk_mtx_lock (&md->mq_mtx, HAWK_NULL);
+		fncp = hawk_rtx_valtofnc(rtx, hawk_rtx_getarg(rtx, 0), &fnc);
+		hawk_mtx_unlock (&md->mq_mtx);
+		if (!fncp) return -1; /* hard failure */
+
+		if (f_nargs < fnc.spec.arg.min  || f_nargs > fnc.spec.arg.max) 
+		{
+			hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_EARGTM);
+			return -1;
+		}
 
 		call.type = HAWK_NDE_FNCALL_FNC;
-	// QQQ0
-	//	call.u.fnc.info.name = name;
-		call.u.fnc.info.mod = m;
+		call.u.fnc.info.name.ptr = fnc.name.ptr;
+		call.u.fnc.info.name.len = fnc.name.len;
+		call.u.fnc.info.mod = fnc.mod;
+		call.u.fnc.spec = fnc.spec;
 
 		pafs.is_fun = 0;
 		pafs.argspec_ptr = call.u.fnc.spec.arg.spec;
 		pafs.argspec_len = call.u.fnc.spec.arg.spec? hawk_count_oocstr(call.u.fnc.spec.arg.spec): 0;
 	}
 
-	call.nargs = nargs - 1;
+	call.nargs = f_nargs;
 	/* keep HAWK_NULL in call.args so that hawk_rtx_evalcall() knows it's a fake call structure */
 	call.arg_base = rtx->stack_base + 5; /* 5 = 4(stack frame prologue) + 1(the first argument to hawk::call()) */
 
diff --git a/hawk/lib/val.c b/hawk/lib/val.c
index 7ddd2149..917be65e 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/val.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/val.c
@@ -2821,11 +2821,15 @@ hawk_fun_t* hawk_rtx_valtofun (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v)
 	return fun;
 }
 
-hawk_mod_t* hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v, hawk_fnc_spec_t* spec)
+hawk_fnc_t* hawk_rtx_valtofnc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v, hawk_fnc_t* rfnc)
 {
+	/* this function looks for intrinsic functions as well as module functions.
+	 * it combines the functionality of the following two functions.
+	 *   hawk_findfncwithoocs() - finds an intrisic function
+	 *   hawk_querymodulewithname() - finds a function defined in a module 
+	 */
+
 	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
-	hawk_mod_t* mod;
-	hawk_mod_sym_t sym;
 	hawk_val_type_t vtype;
 
 	vtype = HAWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE(rtx, v);
@@ -2838,6 +2842,8 @@ hawk_mod_t* hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v, hawk_fnc_spec_
 		case HAWK_VAL_STR:
 		{
 			hawk_oocs_t x;
+			hawk_fnc_t* fnc;
+
 			x.ptr = hawk_rtx_getvaloocstr(rtx, v, &x.len);
 			if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!x.ptr)) return HAWK_NULL;
 			if (hawk_count_oocstr(x.ptr) != x.len) 
@@ -2845,9 +2851,36 @@ hawk_mod_t* hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v, hawk_fnc_spec_
 				hawk_rtx_freevaloocstr (rtx, v, x.ptr);
 				goto error_inval;
 			}
-			mod = hawk_querymodulewithname(hawk, &x, &sym);
-			hawk_rtx_freevaloocstr (rtx, v, x.ptr);
-			if (!mod) return HAWK_NULL;
+
+			fnc = hawk_findfncwithoocs(hawk, &x);
+			if (fnc)
+			{
+				hawk_rtx_freevaloocstr (rtx, v, x.ptr);
+				*rfnc = *fnc;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				hawk_mod_t* mod;
+				hawk_mod_sym_t sym;
+
+				mod = hawk_querymodulewithname(hawk, &x, &sym);
+				hawk_rtx_freevaloocstr (rtx, v, x.ptr);
+				if (!mod) return HAWK_NULL;
+
+				if (sym.type != HAWK_MOD_FNC || (hawk->opt.trait & sym.u.fnc_.trait) != sym.u.fnc_.trait)
+				{
+					hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_ENOENT);
+					return HAWK_NULL;
+				}
+
+				HAWK_MEMSET (rfnc, 0, HAWK_SIZEOF(*rfnc));
+				rfnc->name.ptr = sym.name;
+				rfnc->name.len = hawk_count_oocstr(sym.name);
+				rfnc->spec = sym.u.fnc_;
+				/* TODO: FIX THIS - set the owner name */
+				/*rfnc->owner = name of the module?*/
+				rfnc->mod = mod;
+			}
 			break;
 		}
 
@@ -2857,14 +2890,7 @@ hawk_mod_t* hawk_rtx_valtomodfnc (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* v, hawk_fnc_spec_
 			return HAWK_NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (sym.type != HAWK_MOD_FNC || (hawk->opt.trait & sym.u.fnc_.trait) != sym.u.fnc_.trait)
-	{
-		hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_ENOENT);
-		return HAWK_NULL;
-	}
-
-	*spec = sym.u.fnc_;
-	return mod;
+	return rfnc;
 }
 
 /* ========================================================================== */
diff --git a/hawk/t/h-009.hawk b/hawk/t/h-009.hawk
index 244ae4e0..85cb3e37 100644
--- a/hawk/t/h-009.hawk
+++ b/hawk/t/h-009.hawk
@@ -7,9 +7,16 @@ function run_test_001 ()
 {
 	@local tmp, out;
 
+	tap_ensure (hawk::function_exists(111), 0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+	tap_ensure (hawk::function_exists(1.69), 0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+	tap_ensure (hawk::function_exists("111"), 0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+	tap_ensure (hawk::function_exists(@b"111"), 0, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+
+	tap_ensure (hawk::call(@b"length", "hawk"), 4, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+	tap_ensure (hawk::call("length", @b"hawk"), 4, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
+
 	if (hawk::function_exists("sed::str_to_str"))
 	{
-		##tmp = sed::str_to_str("s/a/j/g", "aaabbbaaacccaaaddd", out);
 		tmp = hawk::call("sed::str_to_str", "s/a/j/g", "aaabbbaaacccaaaddd", out);
 		tap_ensure (out === "jjjbbbjjjcccjjjddd", 1, @SCRIPTNAME, @SCRIPTLINE);
 	}