diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
index d5dfae48b5..b8cfaf10e4 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
@@ -205,6 +205,13 @@ class _Parser(object):
         except:
             return False
 
+    def token_is_call(self):
+        try:
+            token = self.prog[self.lex_pos]
+            return token[1] == 'call' and token[0] == self.LEX_KEYWORD
+        except:
+            return False
+
     def token_is_if(self):
         try:
             token = self.prog[self.lex_pos]
@@ -249,7 +256,7 @@ class _Parser(object):
         self.lex_pos = 0
         self.parent = parent
         self.funcs = funcs
-        self.func_names = frozenset(set(self.funcs.keys()) | {'call', 'arguments'})
+        self.func_names = frozenset(set(self.funcs.keys()) | {'arguments',})
         self.prog = prog[0]
         self.prog_len = len(self.prog)
         if prog[1] != '':
@@ -295,9 +302,37 @@ class _Parser(object):
             return NumericInfixNode(operator, left, self.expr())
         return left
 
+    def call_expression(self):
+        self.consume()
+        if not self.token_is_id():
+            self.error(_('"call" requires a stored template name'))
+        name = self.token()
+        if name not in self.func_names or self.funcs[name].is_python:
+            self.error(_('{} is not a stored template').format(name))
+        text = self.funcs[name].program_text
+        if not text.startswith('program:'):
+            self.error((_('A stored template must begin with program:')))
+        text = text[len('program:'):]
+        if not self.token_op_is_lparen():
+            self.error(_('"call" requires arguments surrounded by "(" ")"'))
+        self.consume()
+        arguments = list()
+        while not self.token_op_is_rparen():
+            arguments.append(self.infix_expr())
+            if not self.token_op_is_comma():
+                break
+            self.consume()
+        if self.token() != ')':
+            self.error(_('Missing closing parenthesis'))
+        subprog = _Parser().program(self, self.funcs,
+                                    self.parent.lex_scanner.scan(text))
+        return CallNode(subprog, arguments)
+
     def expr(self):
         if self.token_is_if():
             return self.if_expression()
+        if self.token_is_call():
+            return self.call_expression()
         if self.token_is_id():
             # We have an identifier. Determine if it is a function
             id_ = self.token()
@@ -333,19 +368,6 @@ class _Parser(object):
                 return IfNode(arguments[0], (arguments[1],), (arguments[2],))
             if (id_ == 'assign' and len(arguments) == 2 and arguments[0].node_type == Node.NODE_RVALUE):
                 return AssignNode(arguments[0].name, arguments[1])
-            if id_ == 'call':
-                if arguments[0].node_type != Node.NODE_RVALUE:
-                    self.error('The function name in a call statement must not be quoted')
-                name = arguments[0].name
-                if name not in self.func_names or self.funcs[name].is_python:
-                    self.error(_('{} is not a stored template').format(name))
-                text = self.funcs[name].program_text
-                if not text.startswith('program:'):
-                    self.error((_('A stored template must begin with program:')))
-                text = text[len('program:'):]
-                subprog = _Parser().program(self, self.funcs,
-                                            self.parent.lex_scanner.scan(text))
-                return CallNode(subprog, arguments[1:])
             if id_ == 'arguments':
                 new_args = []
                 for arg in arguments:
@@ -598,7 +620,7 @@ class TemplateFormatter(string.Formatter):
     lex_scanner = re.Scanner([
             (r'(==#|!=#|<=#|<#|>=#|>#)', lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_NUMERIC_INFIX, t)),
             (r'(==|!=|<=|<|>=|>)',       lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_STRING_INFIX, t)),  # noqa
-            (r'(if|then|else|fi)\b',     lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_KEYWORD, t)),  # noqa
+            (r'(if|then|else|fi|call)\b',lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_KEYWORD, t)),  # noqa
             (r'[(),=;]',                 lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_OP, t)),  # noqa
             (r'-?[\d\.]+',               lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_CONST, t)),  # noqa
             (r'\$',                      lambda x,t: (_Parser.LEX_ID, t)),  # noqa