diff --git a/code/handlers/permissions.q b/code/handlers/permissions.q
index 93ca2726b..761dbfc30 100644
--- a/code/handlers/permissions.q
+++ b/code/handlers/permissions.q
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ mainexpr:{[u;e;b;pr]
   / .q keywords
   if[xdq e;:dotqf[u;e;b;pr]];
   / lambdas - value any dict args before razing
-  if[any (100 104h)in type each raze @[e;where 99h=type'[e];value]; :lamq[u;ie;b;pr]];
+  if[any (100 104h)in type each raze @[e;where 99h=type'[(),e];value]; :lamq[u;ie;b;pr]];
   / if we get down this far we don't have specific handling for the expression - require superuser
   if[not (fchk[u;ALL;()] or fchk[u;`$string(first e);()]); $[b;'err[`expr][f]; :0b]];
   $[b; exe ie; 1b]}