diff --git a/shell/data.limg b/shell/data.limg
index 7ef4b055..092eef5c 100644
--- a/shell/data.limg
+++ b/shell/data.limg
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
   `((fn (,var) ,@body) ,val))])
     (when . [(mac (when cond . body)
   `(if ,cond (do ,@body) ()))])
-    (list . [(def (list . args) args)])
+    (list . [(def (list . args)
+  # we should probably make a copy here
+  args)])
     (len . [(def (len l)
   (if (no l)
     0