diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index f55739e..d3bacad 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@
     {"sha256",		1, 1, f_sha256},
 #endif
     {"shellescape",	1, 2, f_shellescape},
-    {"shiftwidth",	0, 0, f_shiftwidth},
+    {"shiftwidth",	0, 1, f_shiftwidth},
     {"simplify",	1, 1, f_simplify},
 #ifdef FEAT_FLOAT
     {"sin",		1, 1, f_sin},
@@ -11241,6 +11241,21 @@
     static void
 f_shiftwidth(typval_T *argvars UNUSED, typval_T *rettv)
 {
+    rettv->vval.v_number = 0;
+
+    if (argvars[0].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)
+    {
+	long	col;
+
+	col = (long)get_tv_number_chk(argvars, NULL);
+	if (col < 0)
+	    return;	// type error; errmsg already given
+#ifdef FEAT_VARTABS
+	rettv->vval.v_number = get_sw_value_col(curbuf, col);
+	return;
+#endif
+    }
+
     rettv->vval.v_number = get_sw_value(curbuf);
 }