diff --git a/examples/syntax.lysp b/examples/syntax.lysp
index 26e4e92..d33f574 100644
--- a/examples/syntax.lysp
+++ b/examples/syntax.lysp
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
 ;; vectors
 #[1 2 3]
 
+; alternate syntax for lists
+[] () nil NIL
+
 ;; progn
 (progn
   1
diff --git a/src/compile/block.rs b/src/compile/block.rs
index 9b08f42..6b68a7e 100644
--- a/src/compile/block.rs
+++ b/src/compile/block.rs
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ pub struct FunctionBlock {
     parent: Option<usize>,
     identifier: Option<IdentifierValue>,
     docstring: Option<StringValue>,
+    signature: FunctionSignature,
 
     // Data
     pub(crate) constants: Vec<Value>,
     locals: Vec<Local>,
     upvalues: Vec<UpvalueDef>,
     scope_depth: usize,
-    arity: usize,
 
     // Code
     pub(crate) instructions: Vec<Emitted>,
@@ -363,20 +363,25 @@ impl FunctionBlock {
             parent,
             identifier,
             docstring,
+            signature: signature.clone(),
             constants: vec![],
             locals: vec![],
             upvalues: vec![],
             scope_depth: 0,
             instructions: vec![],
             labels: vec![],
-            arity: signature.required_arguments.len(),
             loop_stack: vec![],
         };
-        for required in signature.required_arguments.iter().rev() {
+        for required in signature.required_arguments.iter() {
             block
                 .add_local(required.clone(), Some(-100))
                 .expect("couldn't add an argument");
         }
+        for optional in signature.optional_arguments.iter() {
+            block
+                .add_local(optional.clone(), Some(-100))
+                .expect("couldn't add an argument");
+        }
         block
     }
 
@@ -484,13 +489,17 @@ impl FunctionBlock {
             instructions[position] = branch_offset as u8;
         }
 
+        let min_arity = self.signature.min_arity();
+        let max_arity = self.signature.max_arity();
+
         Ok(Rc::new(BytecodeFunction {
             identifier: self.identifier.clone(),
             instructions: instructions.into(),
             docstring: self.docstring.clone(),
             constants: self.constants.iter().cloned().collect(),
             upvalues: self.upvalues.iter().copied().collect(),
-            arity: self.arity,
+            min_arity,
+            max_arity,
         }))
     }
 
diff --git a/src/compile/codegen/function.rs b/src/compile/codegen/function.rs
index 02f3365..849b963 100644
--- a/src/compile/codegen/function.rs
+++ b/src/compile/codegen/function.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl Compile for CallExpression {
             let callee = self.callee.compile(cx)?;
             cx.push(callee)?;
         }
-        for expression in self.arguments.iter().rev() {
+        for expression in self.arguments.iter() {
             let value = expression.compile(cx)?;
             cx.push(value)?;
         }
diff --git a/src/compile/function.rs b/src/compile/function.rs
index 1a33e89..ed0a3a5 100644
--- a/src/compile/function.rs
+++ b/src/compile/function.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,15 @@ impl FunctionSignature {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn arity(&self) -> usize {
+    pub fn min_arity(&self) -> usize {
         self.required_arguments.len()
     }
+
+    pub fn max_arity(&self) -> usize {
+        if self.rest_argument.is_none() {
+            self.required_arguments.len() + self.optional_arguments.len()
+        } else {
+            usize::MAX
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 0b9b408..9276e78 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ pub enum Trace {
     Execute,
     Call,
     Return,
+    Stack,
 }
 
 impl FromStr for Trace {
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ impl FromStr for Trace {
             "execute" => Ok(Self::Execute),
             "call" => Ok(Self::Call),
             "return" => Ok(Self::Return),
+            "stack" => Ok(Self::Stack),
             _ => Err(format!("Unknown trace flag: {s:?}")),
         }
     }
@@ -199,6 +201,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
     vm.trace_instructions = args.trace.contains(&Trace::Execute);
     vm.trace_calls = args.trace.contains(&Trace::Call);
     vm.trace_returns = args.trace.contains(&Trace::Return);
+    vm.trace_stack = args.trace.contains(&Trace::Stack);
     let mut env = Environment::default();
     prelude::load(&mut env);
     let mut arguments = vec![];
diff --git a/src/vm/machine.rs b/src/vm/machine.rs
index 6b47794..0ec9da4 100644
--- a/src/vm/machine.rs
+++ b/src/vm/machine.rs
@@ -203,9 +203,10 @@ impl Machine {
             Value::NativeFunction(function) => {
                 let function = function.clone();
                 // TODO remove argument cloning
-                let arguments = (0..argument_count)
+                let mut arguments = (0..argument_count)
                     .map(|_| self.pop())
                     .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
+                arguments.reverse();
 
                 if self.trace_calls {
                     eprintln!("TRACE: Call native");
@@ -240,9 +241,21 @@ impl Machine {
             }
         };
 
-        if argument_count != closure.function.arity {
-            todo!("TODO error here")
+        if argument_count < closure.function.min_arity {
+            todo!("TODO function called with less arguments than expected")
         }
+        if argument_count > closure.function.max_arity {
+            todo!("TODO function called with more arguments than expected")
+        }
+        if closure.function.max_arity == usize::MAX {
+            todo!("VM support for &rest argument")
+        }
+        for _ in argument_count..closure.function.max_arity {
+            self.push(Value::Nil)?;
+        }
+        // if argument_count != closure.function.arity {
+        //     todo!("TODO error here")
+        // }
 
         if self.trace_calls {
             eprintln!("TRACE: Call closure");
@@ -500,9 +513,10 @@ impl Machine {
             | Instruction::Not
             | Instruction::Negate => {
                 let argument_count = usize::from(ArgumentCount::read_encoded(self)?);
-                let arguments = (0..argument_count)
+                let mut arguments = (0..argument_count)
                     .map(|_| self.pop())
                     .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
+                arguments.reverse();
                 let function = prelude::dispatch_arithmetic(opcode);
                 let value = (function)(self, env, &arguments[..])?;
                 self.push(value)?;
@@ -579,11 +593,24 @@ impl Machine {
         closure: ClosureValue,
         args: &[Value],
     ) -> Result<Value, MachineErrorAt> {
+        let max_arity = closure.function.max_arity;
+        if args.len() < closure.function.min_arity {
+            todo!()
+        }
+        if args.len() > closure.function.max_arity {
+            todo!()
+        }
         self.push(Value::Closure(closure))
             .map_err(MachineErrorAt::at_unknown)?;
-        for arg in args.iter().rev() {
+        if max_arity == usize::MAX {
+            todo!("VM support for &rest argument")
+        }
+        for arg in args.iter() {
             self.push(arg.clone()).map_err(MachineErrorAt::at_unknown)?;
         }
+        for _ in args.len()..max_arity {
+            self.push(Value::Nil).map_err(MachineErrorAt::at_unknown)?;
+        }
         let unwind_target = self.call_stack.pointer();
         self.execute_call(env, args.len())
             .map_err(MachineErrorAt::at_unknown)?;
diff --git a/src/vm/value/function.rs b/src/vm/value/function.rs
index 833ada4..1aeef6b 100644
--- a/src/vm/value/function.rs
+++ b/src/vm/value/function.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ pub struct BytecodeFunction {
     pub instructions: Box<[u8]>,
     pub constants: Box<[Value]>,
     pub upvalues: Box<[UpvalueDef]>,
-    pub arity: usize,
+    pub min_arity: usize,
+    pub max_arity: usize,
 }
 
 enum TraceArgument {