diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index ae78355..75c4099 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -10339,7 +10339,8 @@
     s = get_tv_string(&argvars[0]);
     if (s == NULL || *s == NUL || VIM_ISDIGIT(*s))
 	EMSG2(_(e_invarg2), s);
-    else if (!function_exists(s))
+    /* Don't check an autoload name for existence here. */
+    else if (vim_strchr(s, AUTOLOAD_CHAR) == NULL && !function_exists(s))
 	EMSG2(_("E700: Unknown function: %s"), s);
     else
     {