diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/CxxOps.td b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/CxxOps.td
index 0aa6ca87..765d80bc 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/CxxOps.td
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/CxxOps.td
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@
 include "mlir/IR/OpBase.td"
 include "mlir/IR/AttrTypeBase.td"
 include "mlir/IR/SymbolInterfaces.td"
+include "mlir/IR/BuiltinAttributeInterfaces.td"
+include "mlir/Interfaces/CallInterfaces.td"
 include "mlir/Interfaces/FunctionInterfaces.td"
 include "mlir/Interfaces/SideEffectInterfaces.td"
-include "mlir/IR/BuiltinAttributeInterfaces.td"
 
 def Cxx_Dialect : Dialect {
   let name = "cxx";
@@ -103,9 +104,6 @@ def Cxx_FuncOp : Cxx_Op<"func", [FunctionOpInterface, IsolatedFromAbove]> {
 
   let regions = (region AnyRegion:$body);
 
-  let builders = [OpBuilder<(ins "StringRef":$name, "FunctionType":$type,
-      CArg<"ArrayRef<NamedAttribute>", "{}">:$attrs)>];
-
   let extraClassDeclaration = [{
     auto getArgumentTypes() -> ArrayRef<Type> { return getFunctionType().getInputs(); }
     auto getResultTypes() -> ArrayRef<Type> { return getFunctionType().getResults(); }
@@ -113,7 +111,6 @@ def Cxx_FuncOp : Cxx_Op<"func", [FunctionOpInterface, IsolatedFromAbove]> {
   }];
 
   let hasCustomAssemblyFormat = 1;
-  let skipDefaultBuilders = 1;
 }
 
 def Cxx_ReturnOp : Cxx_Op<"return", [Pure, HasParent<"FuncOp">, Terminator]> {
@@ -128,6 +125,17 @@ def Cxx_ReturnOp : Cxx_Op<"return", [Pure, HasParent<"FuncOp">, Terminator]> {
   let hasVerifier = 0;
 }
 
+def Cxx_CallOp : Cxx_Op<"call"> {
+  let arguments = (ins
+    FlatSymbolRefAttr:$callee,
+    Variadic<AnyType>:$inputs,
+    OptionalAttr<DictArrayAttr>:$arg_attrs,
+    OptionalAttr<DictArrayAttr>:$res_attrs
+  );
+
+  let results = (outs AnyType);
+}
+
 def Cxx_AllocaOp : Cxx_Op<"alloca"> {
   let arguments = (ins);
 
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.cc b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.cc
index ddc18434..71f0a88d 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.cc
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.cc
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@
 
 // cxx
 #include <cxx/control.h>
+#include <cxx/external_name_encoder.h>
 #include <cxx/symbols.h>
 #include <cxx/translation_unit.h>
+#include <cxx/types.h>
 
 // mlir
 #include <mlir/Dialect/ControlFlow/IR/ControlFlowOps.h>
@@ -79,6 +81,52 @@ auto Codegen::findOrCreateLocal(Symbol* symbol) -> std::optional<mlir::Value> {
   return allocaOp;
 }
 
+auto Codegen::findOrCreateFunction(FunctionSymbol* functionSymbol)
+    -> mlir::cxx::FuncOp {
+  if (auto it = funcOps_.find(functionSymbol); it != funcOps_.end()) {
+    return it->second;
+  }
+
+  const auto functionType = type_cast<FunctionType>(functionSymbol->type());
+  const auto returnType = functionType->returnType();
+  const auto needsExitValue = !control()->is_void(returnType);
+
+  std::vector<mlir::Type> inputTypes;
+  std::vector<mlir::Type> resultTypes;
+
+  for (auto paramTy : functionType->parameterTypes()) {
+    inputTypes.push_back(convertType(paramTy));
+  }
+
+  if (needsExitValue) {
+    resultTypes.push_back(convertType(returnType));
+  }
+
+  auto funcType = builder_.getFunctionType(inputTypes, resultTypes);
+
+  std::string name;
+
+  if (functionSymbol->hasCLinkage()) {
+    name = to_string(functionSymbol->name());
+  } else {
+    ExternalNameEncoder encoder;
+    name = encoder.encode(functionSymbol);
+  }
+
+  const auto loc = getLocation(functionSymbol->location());
+
+  auto guard = mlir::OpBuilder::InsertionGuard(builder_);
+
+  builder_.setInsertionPointToStart(module_.getBody());
+
+  auto func = builder_.create<mlir::cxx::FuncOp>(
+      loc, name, funcType, mlir::ArrayAttr{}, mlir::ArrayAttr{});
+
+  funcOps_.insert_or_assign(functionSymbol, func);
+
+  return func;
+}
+
 auto Codegen::getLocation(SourceLocation location) -> mlir::Location {
   auto [filename, line, column] = unit_->tokenStartPosition(location);
 
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.h b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.h
index a4df8cac..fe79a204 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.h
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen.h
@@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ class Codegen {
 
   [[nodiscard]] auto currentBlockMightHaveTerminator() -> bool;
 
+  [[nodiscard]] auto findOrCreateFunction(FunctionSymbol* functionSymbol)
+      -> mlir::cxx::FuncOp;
+
   [[nodiscard]] auto findOrCreateLocal(Symbol* symbol)
       -> std::optional<mlir::Value>;
 
@@ -308,6 +311,7 @@ class Codegen {
   mlir::cxx::AllocaOp exitValue_;
   std::unordered_map<ClassSymbol*, mlir::Type> classNames_;
   std::unordered_map<Symbol*, mlir::Value> locals_;
+  std::unordered_map<FunctionSymbol*, mlir::cxx::FuncOp> funcOps_;
   Loop loop_;
   int count_ = 0;
 };
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_declarations.cc b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_declarations.cc
index ad9748af..739a00ea 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_declarations.cc
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_declarations.cc
@@ -316,46 +316,20 @@ auto Codegen::DeclarationVisitor::operator()(OpaqueEnumDeclarationAST* ast)
 auto Codegen::DeclarationVisitor::operator()(FunctionDefinitionAST* ast)
     -> DeclarationResult {
   auto functionSymbol = ast->symbol;
+
+  auto func = gen.findOrCreateFunction(functionSymbol);
   const auto functionType = type_cast<FunctionType>(functionSymbol->type());
   const auto returnType = functionType->returnType();
   const auto needsExitValue = !gen.control()->is_void(returnType);
 
-  std::vector<mlir::Type> inputTypes;
-  std::vector<mlir::Type> resultTypes;
-
-  for (auto paramTy : functionType->parameterTypes()) {
-    inputTypes.push_back(gen.convertType(paramTy));
-  }
-
-  if (needsExitValue) {
-    resultTypes.push_back(gen.convertType(returnType));
-  }
-
-  auto funcType = gen.builder_.getFunctionType(inputTypes, resultTypes);
-
-  std::vector<std::string> path;
-  for (Symbol* symbol = ast->symbol; symbol;
-       symbol = symbol->enclosingSymbol()) {
-    if (!symbol->name()) continue;
-    path.push_back(to_string(symbol->name()));
-  }
-
-  std::string name;
+  auto loc = gen.getLocation(ast->firstSourceLocation());
 
-  if (ast->symbol->hasCLinkage()) {
-    name = to_string(ast->symbol->name());
-  } else {
-    ExternalNameEncoder encoder;
-    name = encoder.encode(ast->symbol);
+  // Add the function body.
+  auto entryBlock = gen.builder_.createBlock(&func.getBody());
+  for (const auto& input : func.getFunctionType().getInputs()) {
+    entryBlock->addArgument(input, loc);
   }
 
-  auto guard = mlir::OpBuilder::InsertionGuard(gen.builder_);
-
-  const auto loc = gen.getLocation(ast->symbol->location());
-
-  std::unordered_map<Symbol*, mlir::Value> locals;
-  auto func = gen.builder_.create<mlir::cxx::FuncOp>(loc, name, funcType);
-  auto entryBlock = &func.front();
   auto exitBlock = gen.builder_.createBlock(&func.getBody());
   mlir::cxx::AllocaOp exitValue;
 
@@ -370,6 +344,8 @@ auto Codegen::DeclarationVisitor::operator()(FunctionDefinitionAST* ast)
     exitValue = gen.builder_.create<mlir::cxx::AllocaOp>(exitValueLoc, ptrType);
   }
 
+  std::unordered_map<Symbol*, mlir::Value> locals;
+
   // function state
   std::swap(gen.function_, func);
   std::swap(gen.exitBlock_, exitBlock);
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_expressions.cc b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_expressions.cc
index 49dc7c41..44903236 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_expressions.cc
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/codegen_expressions.cc
@@ -465,6 +465,43 @@ auto Codegen::ExpressionVisitor::operator()(SubscriptExpressionAST* ast)
 
 auto Codegen::ExpressionVisitor::operator()(CallExpressionAST* ast)
     -> ExpressionResult {
+  auto check_direct_call = [&]() -> ExpressionResult {
+    auto func = ast->baseExpression;
+
+    while (auto nested = ast_cast<NestedExpressionAST>(func)) {
+      func = nested->expression;
+    }
+
+    auto id = ast_cast<IdExpressionAST>(func);
+    if (!id) return {};
+
+    auto functionSymbol = symbol_cast<FunctionSymbol>(id->symbol);
+
+    if (!functionSymbol) return {};
+
+    auto funcOp = gen.findOrCreateFunction(functionSymbol);
+
+    mlir::SmallVector<mlir::Value> arguments;
+    for (auto node : ListView{ast->expressionList}) {
+      auto value = gen.expression(node);
+      arguments.push_back(value.value);
+    }
+
+    auto loc = gen.getLocation(ast->lparenLoc);
+
+    auto functionType = type_cast<FunctionType>(functionSymbol->type());
+    auto resultType = gen.convertType(functionType->returnType());
+    auto op = gen.builder_.create<mlir::cxx::CallOp>(
+        loc, resultType, funcOp.getSymName(), arguments, mlir::ArrayAttr{},
+        mlir::ArrayAttr{});
+
+    return {op};
+  };
+
+  if (auto op = check_direct_call(); op.value) {
+    return op;
+  }
+
   auto op =
       gen.emitTodoExpr(ast->firstSourceLocation(), to_string(ast->kind()));
 
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect.cc b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect.cc
index d197d393..899ae6e8 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect.cc
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect.cc
@@ -122,11 +122,6 @@ void CxxDialect::initialize() {
   addInterface<CxxGenerateAliases>();
 }
 
-void FuncOp::build(OpBuilder &builder, OperationState &state, StringRef name,
-                   FunctionType type, ArrayRef<NamedAttribute> attrs) {
-  buildWithEntryBlock(builder, state, name, type, attrs, type.getInputs());
-}
-
 void FuncOp::print(OpAsmPrinter &p) {
   function_interface_impl::printFunctionOp(
       p, *this, /*isVariadic=*/false, getFunctionTypeAttrName(),
diff --git a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect_conversions.cc b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect_conversions.cc
index 0637a5c4..76a7038f 100644
--- a/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect_conversions.cc
+++ b/src/mlir/cxx/mlir/cxx_dialect_conversions.cc
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ class FuncOpLowering : public OpConversionPattern<cxx::FuncOp> {
     auto func = rewriter.create<LLVM::LLVMFuncOp>(op.getLoc(), op.getSymName(),
                                                   llvmFuncType);
 
+    if (op.getBody().empty()) {
+      func.setLinkage(LLVM::linkage::Linkage::External);
+    }
+
     rewriter.inlineRegionBefore(op.getRegion(), func.getBody(), func.end());
 
     rewriter.eraseOp(op);
@@ -101,6 +105,39 @@ class ReturnOpLowering : public OpConversionPattern<cxx::ReturnOp> {
   }
 };
 
+class CallOpLowering : public OpConversionPattern<cxx::CallOp> {
+ public:
+  using OpConversionPattern::OpConversionPattern;
+
+  auto matchAndRewrite(cxx::CallOp op, OpAdaptor adaptor,
+                       ConversionPatternRewriter &rewriter) const
+      -> LogicalResult override {
+    auto typeConverter = getTypeConverter();
+
+    SmallVector<Type> argumentTypes;
+    for (auto argType : op.getOperandTypes()) {
+      auto convertedType = typeConverter->convertType(argType);
+      if (!convertedType) {
+        return rewriter.notifyMatchFailure(
+            op, "failed to convert call argument type");
+      }
+      argumentTypes.push_back(convertedType);
+    }
+
+    auto resultType = typeConverter->convertType(op.getType());
+    if (!resultType) {
+      return rewriter.notifyMatchFailure(op,
+                                         "failed to convert call result types");
+    }
+
+    auto llvmCallOp = rewriter.create<LLVM::CallOp>(
+        op.getLoc(), resultType, adaptor.getCallee(), adaptor.getInputs());
+
+    rewriter.replaceOp(op, llvmCallOp.getResults());
+    return success();
+  }
+};
+
 class AllocaOpLowering : public OpConversionPattern<cxx::AllocaOp> {
  public:
   using OpConversionPattern::OpConversionPattern;
@@ -908,7 +945,8 @@ void CxxToLLVMLoweringPass::runOnOperation() {
   RewritePatternSet patterns(context);
 
   // function operations
-  patterns.insert<FuncOpLowering, ReturnOpLowering>(typeConverter, context);
+  patterns.insert<FuncOpLowering, ReturnOpLowering, CallOpLowering>(
+      typeConverter, context);
 
   // memory operations
   patterns.insert<AllocaOpLowering, LoadOpLowering, StoreOpLowering>(