diff --git a/include/monads.lfe b/include/monads.lfe
index ffc8913..b8a0aa2 100644
--- a/include/monads.lfe
+++ b/include/monads.lfe
@@ -4,16 +4,25 @@
     (monad:do-transform monad statements)))
 
 (defmacro >>= (monad m f)
-  `(: ,monad >>= ,m ,f))
+  (if (: lfe-utils atom? monad)
+    `(call ',monad '>>= ,m ,f)
+    `(call ,monad '>>= ,m ,f)))
 
 (defmacro >> (monad m1 m2)
-  `(: ,monad >>= ,m1 (lambda (_) ,m2)))
+  (let ((f `(lambda (_) ,m2)))
+    (if (: lfe-utils atom? monad)
+      `(call ',monad '>>= ,m1 ,f)
+      `(call ,monad '>>= ,m1 ,f))))
 
 (defmacro return (monad expr)
-  `(: ,monad return ,expr))
+  (if (: lfe-utils atom? monad)
+    `(call ',monad 'return ,expr)
+    `(call ,monad 'return ,expr)))
 
 (defmacro fail (monad expr)
-  `(: ,monad fail ,expr))
+  (if (: lfe-utils atom? monad)
+    `(call ',monad 'fail ,expr)
+    `(call ,monad 'fail ,expr)))
 
 (defmacro sequence (monad list)
   `(: lists foldr
diff --git a/src/monad.lfe b/src/monad.lfe
index 00e7dd2..291ec8f 100644
--- a/src/monad.lfe
+++ b/src/monad.lfe
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 (defun do-transform
   ((monad (cons h '())) h)
-  ((monad (cons (list f '<- m) t)) (list ': monad '>>=
+  ((monad (cons (list f '<- m) t)) (list '>>= monad
                                    m
                                    (list 'lambda (list f) (do-transform monad t))))
   ((monad (cons h t)) (list '>> monad h (do-transform monad t)))