diff --git a/src/prolog/lib/error.pl b/src/prolog/lib/error.pl
index 21955f50..e7b7fe66 100644
--- a/src/prolog/lib/error.pl
+++ b/src/prolog/lib/error.pl
@@ -27,15 +27,16 @@
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - */
 
 must_be(Type, Term) :-
+        must_be_(type, Type),
         must_be_(Type, Term).
 
-
 must_be_(Type, _) :-
         var(Type),
         instantiation_error(Type).
 must_be_(integer, Term) :- check_(integer, integer, Term).
 must_be_(atom, Term)    :- check_(atom, atom, Term).
 must_be_(list, Term)    :- check_(ilist, list, Term).
+must_be_(type, Term)    :- check_(type, type, Term).
 
 check_(Pred, Type, Term) :-
         (   var(Term) -> instantiation_error(Term)
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ ilist(V) :- var(V), instantiation_error(V).
 ilist([]).
 ilist([_|Ls]) :- ilist(Ls).
 
+type(type).
+type(integer).
+type(atom).
+type(list).
 
 /* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    can_be(Type, Term)
@@ -63,6 +68,7 @@ ilist([_|Ls]) :- ilist(Ls).
 
 
 can_be(Type, Term) :-
+        must_be(type, Type),
         (   var(Term) -> true
         ;   can_(Type, Term) -> true
         ;   type_error(Type, Term)