diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 54c0b0aa5db..a884e61a183 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -609,7 +609,9 @@ Type \\[describe-distribution] for information on getting the latest version."))
 		     (setq tem (intern argval))
 		   (setq tem (intern (car command-line-args-left)))
 		   (setq command-line-args-left (cdr command-line-args-left)))
-		 (funcall tem))
+		 (if (arrayp (symbol-function tem))
+		     (command-execute tem)
+		   (funcall tem)))
 		((or (string-equal argi "-l")
 		     (string-equal argi "-load"))
 		 (if argval