diff --git a/pl/arith.yap b/pl/arith.yap
index 7342b4ec1..b5f8ca335 100644
--- a/pl/arith.yap
+++ b/pl/arith.yap
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ do_not_compile_expressions :- set_value('$c_arith',[]).
 	'$do_and'(R0, Comp, R).
 '$do_c_built_in'(P, _, P).
 
-'$do_c_built_metacall'(G1, Mod, call(Mod:G1)) :- 
-	var(G1), var(Mod), !.
+'$do_c_built_metacall'(G1, Mod, '$execute_wo_mod'(G1,Mod)) :- 
+	var(Mod), !.
 '$do_c_built_metacall'(G1, Mod, '$execute_in_mod'(G1,Mod)) :- 
 	var(G1), atom(Mod), !.
 '$do_c_built_metacall'(Mod:G1, _, OUT) :-  !,