diff --git a/src/syntax/parsing.rs b/src/syntax/parsing.rs
index 7d3da63ec..96db687db 100644
--- a/src/syntax/parsing.rs
+++ b/src/syntax/parsing.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ impl Parser<'_> {
         self.skip_white();
         let name = self.parse_ident().unwrap_or_else(|| {
             self.expected_found_or_at("function name", before_name);
-            Spanned::zero(Ident(String::new()))
+            Spanned::new(Ident(String::new()), Span::at(before_name))
         });
 
         self.skip_white();
diff --git a/src/syntax/tree.rs b/src/syntax/tree.rs
index 47c79117b..ae2e98920 100644
--- a/src/syntax/tree.rs
+++ b/src/syntax/tree.rs
@@ -191,8 +191,10 @@ impl CallExpr {
             f.decorations.push(Spanned::new(Decoration::Resolved, span));
             pass.output
         } else {
-            error!(@f, span, "unknown function");
-            f.decorations.push(Spanned::new(Decoration::Unresolved, span));
+            if !name.is_empty() {
+                error!(@f, span, "unknown function");
+                f.decorations.push(Spanned::new(Decoration::Unresolved, span));
+            }
             Value::Table(args)
         }
     }