diff --git a/examples/how_do_i.nom b/examples/how_do_i.nom
index e3c58d6..d40c7f4 100644
--- a/examples/how_do_i.nom
+++ b/examples/how_do_i.nom
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env nomsu -V6.13.12.8
+
 # How do I...
 # Write a comment? Put a # and go till the end of the line
 # How do I write a multi-line comment?
@@ -313,9 +314,9 @@ debug only:
 # Function literals look like: $x -> ($x * $x)
 say (best of [2, -3, 4, -8] according to ($x -> ($x * $x)))
 
-# Or, you can use ((foo $)'s meaning) to access the function that gets called by (foo $)
+# Or, you can use $(foo $) to access the function that gets called by (foo $)
 ($x squared) means ($x * $x)
-say (best of [2, -3, 4, -8] according to (($ squared)'s meaning))
+say (best of [2, -3, 4, -8] according to $($ squared)
 
 # But nomsu was designed with flexible alternatives that are often better than passing functions.
     For example, instead of calling a key function on every item, you could instead define a macro
diff --git a/nomsu.6.peg b/nomsu.6.peg
index 6a1725a..344f679 100644
--- a/nomsu.6.peg
+++ b/nomsu.6.peg
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ real_number (Number) <-
     (("-"? [0-9]+ "." [0-9]+)-> tonumber)
 
 
-variable (Var) <- "$" ({ident_char+} / "(" {(ws+ / operator_char+ / ident_char+)*} ")" / {''})
+variable (Var) <- "$" ({ident_char+} / "(" ws* inline_action ws* ")" / {''})
 
 
 inline_list (List) <-
diff --git a/nomsu_compiler.lua b/nomsu_compiler.lua
index 2b49112..c9f8fd6 100644
--- a/nomsu_compiler.lua
+++ b/nomsu_compiler.lua
@@ -473,7 +473,12 @@ local compile = setmetatable({
     elseif "Number" == _exp_0 then
       return LuaCode:from(tree.source, tostring(tree[1]))
     elseif "Var" == _exp_0 then
-      return LuaCode:from(tree.source, (concat(tree, " ")):as_lua_id())
+      if type(tree[1]) == 'string' then
+        return LuaCode:from(tree.source, (concat(tree, " ")):as_lua_id())
+      else
+        assert(tree[1].type == 'Action')
+        return LuaCode:from(tree.source, tree[1]:get_stub():as_lua_id())
+      end
     elseif "FileChunks" == _exp_0 then
       return error("Can't convert FileChunks to a single block of lua, since each chunk's " .. "compilation depends on the earlier chunks")
     elseif "Comment" == _exp_0 then
diff --git a/nomsu_compiler.moon b/nomsu_compiler.moon
index 45e863d..0602f63 100644
--- a/nomsu_compiler.moon
+++ b/nomsu_compiler.moon
@@ -370,7 +370,11 @@ compile = setmetatable({
                 return LuaCode\from(tree.source, tostring(tree[1]))
 
             when "Var"
-                return LuaCode\from(tree.source, (concat(tree, " "))\as_lua_id!)
+                if type(tree[1]) == 'string'
+                    return LuaCode\from(tree.source, (concat(tree, " "))\as_lua_id!)
+                else
+                    assert(tree[1].type == 'Action')
+                    return LuaCode\from(tree.source, tree[1]\get_stub!\as_lua_id!)
 
             when "FileChunks"
                 error("Can't convert FileChunks to a single block of lua, since each chunk's "..
diff --git a/nomsu_decompiler.lua b/nomsu_decompiler.lua
index 1918ac2..bf04f4a 100644
--- a/nomsu_decompiler.lua
+++ b/nomsu_decompiler.lua
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ tree_to_inline_nomsu = function(tree)
     return NomsuCode:from(tree.source, s)
   elseif "Var" == _exp_0 then
     local varname = tree[1]
-    if varname == "" or is_identifier(varname) then
+    if type(varname) == "string" then
       return NomsuCode:from(tree.source, "$", varname)
     else
-      return NomsuCode:from(tree.source, "$(", varname, ")")
+      return NomsuCode:from(tree.source, "$(", tree_to_inline_nomsu(varname), ")")
     end
   elseif "FileChunks" == _exp_0 then
     return error("Can't inline a FileChunks")
diff --git a/nomsu_decompiler.moon b/nomsu_decompiler.moon
index 3deaabc..9d4face 100644
--- a/nomsu_decompiler.moon
+++ b/nomsu_decompiler.moon
@@ -165,10 +165,10 @@ tree_to_inline_nomsu = (tree)->
 
         when "Var"
             varname = tree[1]
-            if varname == "" or is_identifier(varname)
+            if type(varname) == "string"
                 return NomsuCode\from(tree.source, "$", varname)
             else
-                return NomsuCode\from(tree.source, "$(", varname, ")")
+                return NomsuCode\from(tree.source, "$(", tree_to_inline_nomsu(varname), ")")
 
         when "FileChunks"
             error("Can't inline a FileChunks")