diff --git a/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el b/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
index 0f506c7664a..5292acb964a 100644
--- a/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
+++ b/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
@@ -1584,7 +1584,8 @@ a string naming a Lisp function."
       (eshell-set-exit-info 0))
     (setq eshell-last-arguments args)
     (let* ((eshell-ensure-newline-p t)
-           (command-form-p (functionp object))
+           (command-form-p (and (functionp object)
+                                (symbolp object)))
            result)
       (if command-form-p
           (let ((numeric (not (get object 'eshell-no-numeric-conversions)))
diff --git a/test/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd-tests.el b/test/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd-tests.el
index 1d03becb9d9..fd7df7e1d81 100644
--- a/test/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd-tests.el
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ Test that trailing arguments outside the S-expression are
 ignored.  e.g. \"(+ 1 2) 3\" => 3"
   (eshell-command-result-equal "(+ 1 2) 3" 3))
 
+(ert-deftest esh-cmd-test/literal-lambda ()
+  "Test that a lambda isn't immediately invoked."
+  (eshell-command-result-equal "(lambda (i) (+ i 1))"
+                               (eval '(lambda (i) (+ i 1)))))
+
 (ert-deftest esh-cmd-test/subcommand ()
   "Test invocation with a simple subcommand."
   (eshell-command-result-equal "{+ 1 2}" 3))