diff --git a/function.c b/function.c
index 8ba26625..76fb73d1 100644
--- a/function.c
+++ b/function.c
@@ -1120,9 +1120,15 @@ handle_function (op, stringp)
 	}
 
       if (count >= 0)
-	makefile_fatal (reading_filename, *reading_lineno_ptr,
-			"unterminated call to function `%s': missing `%c'",
-			function_table[code].name, closeparen);
+	{
+	  static const char errmsg[]
+	    = "unterminated call to function `%s': missing `%c'";
+	  if (reading_filename == 0)
+	    fatal (errmsg, function_table[code].name, closeparen);
+	  else
+	    makefile_fatal (reading_filename, *reading_lineno_ptr, errmsg,
+			    function_table[code].name, closeparen);
+	}
 
       /* We found the end; expand the function call.  */