diff --git a/forge/forge.lisp b/forge/forge.lisp
index 1a80be7..8eb0ee4 100644
--- a/forge/forge.lisp
+++ b/forge/forge.lisp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 (in-package :scopes/forge)
 
+(defvar *builtins* (make-hash-table :test 'equalp))
+
 (defclass forge-env ()
   ((data-stack :initform nil
 			   :reader data-stack
@@ -19,13 +21,17 @@
 (defun exec (fe code)
   (dolist (x code)
 	(if (symbolp x)
-      (funcall (find-symbol (symbol-name x) :scopes/forge) fe)
+      (funcall (gethash (string-downcase (symbol-name x)) *builtins*) fe)
 	  (pushd fe x))))
 
-; forge primitives
+(defun register (voc key fn)
+  (setf (gethash (string-downcase (symbol-name key)) voc) fn))
 
-(defun add (fe)
-  (pushd fe (+ (popd fe) (popd fe))))
+; built-in primitives
+
+(defun reg-b (key fn) (register *builtins* key fn))
+
+(reg-b 'add #'(lambda (fe) (pushd fe (+ (popd fe) (popd fe)))))
 
 ; internal definitions