Steps to reproduce: 1) save attached file as `wtf.el'; 2) execute from command line: $ emacs --batch --eval "(byte-compile-file \"wtf.el\")" $ emacs --batch -L . --eval "(require 'wtf)" --eval "(print (funcall (wtf 1)))" Results, of the first command (byte-compilation): In wtf: wtf.el:9:17:Warning: reference to free variable ‘it’ of the second: Symbol’s value as variable is void: it Expected results: byte compilation succeeds without warnings, second command prints "1". Note that if you change line "(let ((fn #'(lambda () it)))" to e.g. "(let ((fn #'(lambda () nil)))", everything works as expected. However, 'fn' _is not even used_ when function `wtf' is called with non-nil argument, which further conforms that the observed behavior is a bug. Another indication: when the function is not byte-compiled (e.g. delete file `wtf.elc' after the first command), it produces expected results. Function, of course, doesn't make any sense. It is a result of removing contents of real failure until it is as small as possible. Paul