diff --git a/src/frontend/evaluate.c b/src/frontend/evaluate.c
index 7d6bda087..f49bedb24 100644
--- a/src/frontend/evaluate.c
+++ b/src/frontend/evaluate.c
@@ -937,6 +937,10 @@ apply_func(struct func *func, struct pnode *arg)
 
         vec_new(t);
 
+        /* try to figure out the v_type, depending on the function */
+        if (eq(func->fu_name, "cph") || eq(func->fu_name, "ph"))
+            t->v_type = SV_PHASE;
+
         if (end)
             end->v_link2 = t;
         else