diff --git a/dm-std-lib/src/lib.rs b/dm-std-lib/src/lib.rs
index 49b300e..f104817 100644
--- a/dm-std-lib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/dm-std-lib/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+use dvm_lib::vm::DvmContext;
 use dvm_lib::vm::value::Value;
-use dvm_lib::vm::{DvmContext, DvmState};
 use std::error::Error;
 use std::fmt::{Debug, Display, Formatter};
 use std::rc::Rc;
@@ -35,11 +35,7 @@ impl Display for StdCoreError {
 
 impl Error for StdCoreError {}
 
-pub fn std_core_println(
-    _context: &DvmContext,
-    _state: &DvmState,
-    args: &[Value],
-) -> Result<Value, Box<dyn Error>> {
+pub fn std_core_println(args: &[Value]) -> Result<Value, Box<dyn Error>> {
     let maybe_to_print = args.get(0);
     match maybe_to_print {
         None => Err(Box::new(StdCoreError::new("Missing to_print arg"))),
diff --git a/dm/src/main.rs b/dm/src/main.rs
index 4907871..070b7e7 100644
--- a/dm/src/main.rs
+++ b/dm/src/main.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ use dmc_lib::diagnostic::Diagnostic;
 use dmc_lib::parser::parse_compilation_unit;
 use dmc_lib::symbol_table::SymbolTable;
 use dvm_lib::vm::constant::{Constant, StringConstant};
-use dvm_lib::vm::{DvmContext, DvmState, call};
+use dvm_lib::vm::value::Value;
+use dvm_lib::vm::{CallStack, DvmContext, call};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     if args.show_asm {
         for asm_function in &asm_functions {
-            println!("{:?}", asm_function);
+            println!("{:#?}", asm_function);
         }
     }
 
@@ -75,9 +76,16 @@ fn main() {
         )));
     }
 
-    let mut dvm_state = DvmState::new();
+    let mut registers: Vec<Value> = vec![];
+    let mut call_stack = CallStack::new();
 
-    let result = call(&dvm_context, &mut dvm_state, "main", vec![]);
+    let result = call(
+        &dvm_context,
+        &mut registers,
+        &mut call_stack,
+        "main",
+        vec![],
+    );
     println!("{:?}", result);
 }
 
diff --git a/dmc-lib/src/asm/asm_instruction.rs b/dmc-lib/src/asm/asm_instruction.rs
index 349c8c9..9ab2ce7 100644
--- a/dmc-lib/src/asm/asm_instruction.rs
+++ b/dmc-lib/src/asm/asm_instruction.rs
@@ -107,15 +107,19 @@ impl Pop {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct InvokeStatic {
     name: String,
+    arg_count: usize,
 }
 
 impl InvokeStatic {
-    pub fn new(name: &str) -> Self {
-        Self { name: name.into() }
+    pub fn new(name: &str, arg_count: usize) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name: name.into(),
+            arg_count,
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn dvm(&self) -> Instruction {
-        Instruction::InvokeStatic(Rc::from(self.name.clone()))
+        Instruction::InvokeStatic(Rc::from(self.name.clone()), self.arg_count)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/dmc-lib/src/ast/call.rs b/dmc-lib/src/ast/call.rs
index 0d59975..2805795 100644
--- a/dmc-lib/src/ast/call.rs
+++ b/dmc-lib/src/ast/call.rs
@@ -194,8 +194,10 @@ impl Call {
                 InvokePlatformStatic::new(function_symbol.name(), arg_count),
             ));
         } else {
+            let arg_count = function_symbol.parameters().len();
             context.instruction(AsmInstruction::InvokeStatic(InvokeStatic::new(
                 function_symbol.name(),
+                arg_count,
             )));
         }
     }
diff --git a/dvm-lib/src/instruction.rs b/dvm-lib/src/instruction.rs
index abe6ad2..c463791 100644
--- a/dvm-lib/src/instruction.rs
+++ b/dvm-lib/src/instruction.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub enum Instruction {
     PushInt(i32),
     PushStackFrameOffset(isize),
 
-    InvokeStatic(FunctionName),
+    InvokeStatic(FunctionName, ArgCount),
     InvokePlatformStatic(FunctionName, ArgCount),
 
     LoadStringConstant(ConstantName, Register),
diff --git a/dvm-lib/src/platform_function.rs b/dvm-lib/src/platform_function.rs
index 4666fac..0d4e286 100644
--- a/dvm-lib/src/platform_function.rs
+++ b/dvm-lib/src/platform_function.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 use crate::vm::value::Value;
-use crate::vm::{DvmContext, DvmState};
 use std::error::Error;
 
-pub type PlatformFunction =
-    fn(context: &DvmContext, state: &DvmState, args: &[Value]) -> Result<Value, Box<dyn Error>>;
+pub type PlatformFunction = fn(args: &[Value]) -> Result<Value, Box<dyn Error>>;
diff --git a/dvm-lib/src/vm/mod.rs b/dvm-lib/src/vm/mod.rs
index a0c8fa9..16700b4 100644
--- a/dvm-lib/src/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/dvm-lib/src/vm/mod.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ impl DvmContext {
         &mut self.platform_functions
     }
 
+    #[deprecated]
     pub fn add_function(&mut self, function: Function) {
         self.functions.insert(function.name_owned(), function);
     }
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ impl DvmContext {
         &self.constants
     }
 
+    #[deprecated]
     pub fn add_constant(&mut self, constant: Constant) {
         match &constant {
             Constant::String(string_constant) => {
@@ -59,63 +61,110 @@ impl DvmContext {
     }
 }
 
-pub struct DvmState {
-    stack: Vec<Value>,
-    registers: Vec<Value>,
+pub struct CallFrame<'a> {
+    function_name: Rc<str>,
+    active: bool,
+    instructions: &'a Vec<Instruction>,
     ip: usize,
+    stack: Vec<Value>,
     fp: usize,
 }
 
-impl DvmState {
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
+impl<'a> CallFrame<'a> {
+    fn new(function_name: Rc<str>, instructions: &'a Vec<Instruction>) -> Self {
         Self {
-            stack: vec![],
-            registers: vec![],
+            function_name,
+            active: false,
+            instructions,
             ip: 0,
+            stack: vec![],
             fp: 0,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn stack(&self) -> &Vec<Value> {
-        &self.stack
+    fn function_name(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.function_name
     }
 
-    pub fn stack_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Vec<Value> {
-        &mut self.stack
+    fn active(&self) -> bool {
+        self.active
     }
 
-    pub fn registers(&self) -> &Vec<Value> {
-        &self.registers
+    fn mark_active(&mut self) {
+        self.active = true;
     }
 
-    pub fn registers_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Vec<Value> {
-        &mut self.registers
+    fn instructions(&self) -> &'a [Instruction] {
+        self.instructions
     }
 
-    pub fn ensure_registers(&mut self, count: usize) {
-        self.registers.resize_with(count, Default::default);
-    }
-
-    pub fn ip(&self) -> usize {
+    fn ip(&self) -> usize {
         self.ip
     }
 
-    pub fn increment_ip(&mut self) {
+    fn increment_ip(&mut self) {
         self.ip += 1;
     }
 
-    pub fn fp(&self) -> usize {
+    fn stack(&self) -> &[Value] {
+        &self.stack
+    }
+
+    fn stack_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Vec<Value> {
+        &mut self.stack
+    }
+
+    fn fp(&self) -> usize {
         self.fp
     }
 
-    pub fn set_fp(&mut self, fp: usize) {
+    fn set_fp(&mut self, fp: usize) {
         self.fp = fp;
     }
 }
 
-pub fn call(
-    context: &DvmContext,
-    state: &mut DvmState,
+pub struct CallStack<'a> {
+    call_frames: Vec<CallFrame<'a>>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> CallStack<'a> {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            call_frames: vec![],
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn push(&mut self, call_frame: CallFrame<'a>) {
+        self.call_frames.push(call_frame);
+    }
+
+    fn pop(&mut self) -> CallFrame<'a> {
+        self.call_frames.pop().unwrap()
+    }
+
+    fn top(&self) -> &CallFrame<'a> {
+        &self.call_frames[self.call_frames.len() - 1]
+    }
+
+    fn top_mut(&mut self) -> &mut CallFrame<'a> {
+        let call_frames_len = self.call_frames.len();
+        &mut self.call_frames[call_frames_len - 1] // dang borrow checker
+    }
+
+    fn penultimate(&self) -> Option<&CallFrame<'a>> {
+        self.call_frames.get(self.call_frames.len() - 2)
+    }
+
+    fn penultimate_mut(&mut self) -> Option<&mut CallFrame<'a>> {
+        let call_frames_len = self.call_frames.len();
+        self.call_frames.get_mut(call_frames_len - 2) // dang borrow checker
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn call<'a>(
+    context: &'a DvmContext,
+    registers: &mut Vec<Value>,
+    call_stack: &mut CallStack<'a>,
     function_name: &str,
     arguments: Vec<Value>,
 ) -> Option<Value> {
@@ -124,81 +173,109 @@ pub fn call(
         .get(function_name)
         .expect(&format!("Function {} not found", function_name));
 
-    let instructions = function.instructions();
-    state.ensure_registers(function.register_count());
+    // ensure enough registers
+    registers.resize_with(function.register_count(), Default::default);
+
+    // push call frame
+    call_stack.push(CallFrame::new(
+        function.name_owned(),
+        function.instructions(),
+    ));
+
+    // mark it active
+    call_stack.top_mut().mark_active();
 
     // put each arg on the stack
     for argument in arguments {
-        state.stack_mut().push(argument);
+        call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().push(argument);
     }
 
-    while state.ip() < instructions.len() {
-        let instruction = &instructions[state.ip()];
+    while call_stack.top().ip() < call_stack.top().instructions().len() {
+        let instruction = &call_stack.top().instructions()[call_stack.top().ip()];
         match instruction {
             /* Move instructions */
             Instruction::MoveRegister(source, destination) => {
                 // copy value from one register to another register
-                let value = state.registers()[*source].clone();
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = value;
+                let value = registers[*source].clone();
+                registers[*destination] = value;
             }
             Instruction::MoveInt(value, destination) => {
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = Value::Int(*value);
+                registers[*destination] = Value::Int(*value);
             }
             Instruction::MoveStackFrameOffset(offset, destination) => {
                 // copy a value offset from the current frame pointer (fp) to a register
-                let value_index = state
-                    .fp()
-                    .checked_add_signed(*offset)
-                    .expect("Overflow when adding offset to fp");
-                let value = state.stack()[value_index].clone();
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = value;
+                let value_index =
+                    call_stack
+                        .top()
+                        .fp()
+                        .checked_add_signed(*offset)
+                        .expect(&format!(
+                            "Overflow when adding offset {} to fp {}",
+                            *offset,
+                            call_stack.top().fp()
+                        ));
+                let value = call_stack.top().stack()[value_index].clone();
+                registers[*destination] = value;
             }
 
             /* Push instructions */
             Instruction::PushRegister(source) => {
                 // copy a value from a register to the top of the stack
-                let value = state.registers()[*source].clone();
-                state.stack_mut().push(value);
+                let value = registers[*source].clone();
+                call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().push(value);
             }
             Instruction::PushInt(value) => {
-                state.stack_mut().push(Value::Int(*value));
+                call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().push(Value::Int(*value));
             }
             Instruction::PushStackFrameOffset(offset) => {
                 // copy a value from somewhere on the stack to the top of the stack
-                let value_index = state
+                let value_index = call_stack
+                    .top()
                     .fp()
                     .checked_add_signed(*offset)
                     .expect("Overflow when adding offset to fp");
-                let value = state.stack()[value_index].clone();
-                state.stack_mut().push(value);
+                let value = call_stack.top().stack()[value_index].clone();
+                call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().push(value);
             }
 
             /* Invoke instructions */
-            Instruction::InvokeStatic(function_name) => {
+            Instruction::InvokeStatic(function_name, arg_count) => {
                 let function = context
                     .functions
                     .get(function_name)
                     .expect(&format!("Function {} not found", function_name));
-                todo!("Call stack for invoking Deimos-native functions")
+
+                // get args
+                let mut args =
+                    call_stack.top().stack()[call_stack.top().stack().len() - arg_count..].to_vec();
+
+                // push a new call frame
+                call_stack.push(CallFrame::new(
+                    function.name_owned(),
+                    function.instructions(),
+                ));
+
+                // push args
+                call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().append(&mut args);
+
+                // set fp for callee frame
+                let callee_frame = call_stack.top_mut();
+                callee_frame.set_fp(*arg_count);
             }
 
             Instruction::InvokePlatformStatic(function_name, arg_count) => {
-                let stack = state.stack();
-                let args = &stack[stack.len() - arg_count..];
                 let platform_function = context
                     .platform_functions()
                     .get(function_name)
                     .expect(&format!("Platform function {} not found", function_name));
-                let result = platform_function(context, state, args);
+
+                let args = &call_stack.top().stack()[call_stack.top().stack().len() - arg_count..];
+
+                let result = platform_function(args);
                 match result {
                     Ok(return_value) => {
-                        // pop args off the stack
-                        let mut i: usize = 0;
-                        while i < *arg_count {
-                            state.stack_mut().pop();
-                            i += 1;
-                        }
-                        state.stack_mut().push(return_value);
+                        // push return value to top of caller stack
+                        call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().push(return_value);
                     }
                     Err(error) => {
                         // Eventually we will have some kind of exception handling
@@ -212,41 +289,63 @@ pub fn call(
                 let constant = &context.constants()[constant_name];
                 match constant {
                     Constant::String(string_constant) => {
-                        state.registers_mut()[*destination] =
-                            Value::String(string_constant.content_owned());
+                        registers[*destination] = Value::String(string_constant.content_owned());
                     }
                 }
             }
 
             /* Add instructions */
             Instruction::AddIntInt(lhs, rhs, destination) => {
-                let lhs_value = state.registers()[*lhs].unwrap_int();
-                let rhs_value = state.registers()[*rhs].unwrap_int();
+                let lhs_value = registers[*lhs].unwrap_int();
+                let rhs_value = registers[*rhs].unwrap_int();
                 let result = lhs_value + rhs_value;
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = Value::Int(result);
+                registers[*destination] = Value::Int(result);
             }
             Instruction::AddStringInt(lhs, rhs, destination) => {
-                let lhs_value = state.registers()[*lhs].unwrap_string();
-                let rhs_value = state.registers()[*rhs].unwrap_int();
+                let lhs_value = registers[*lhs].unwrap_string();
+                let rhs_value = registers[*rhs].unwrap_int();
                 let formatted = format!("{}{}", lhs_value, rhs_value);
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = Value::String(Rc::from(formatted));
+                registers[*destination] = Value::String(Rc::from(formatted));
             }
             Instruction::AddStringString(lhs, rhs, destination) => {
-                let lhs_value = state.registers()[*lhs].unwrap_string();
-                let rhs_value = state.registers()[*rhs].unwrap_string();
+                let lhs_value = registers[*lhs].unwrap_string();
+                let rhs_value = registers[*rhs].unwrap_string();
                 let formatted = format!("{}{}", lhs_value, rhs_value);
-                state.registers_mut()[*destination] = Value::String(Rc::from(formatted));
+                registers[*destination] = Value::String(Rc::from(formatted));
             }
 
             /* Pop instructions */
             Instruction::Pop(maybe_register) => {
-                let value = state.stack_mut().pop().unwrap();
+                let value = call_stack.top_mut().stack_mut().pop().unwrap();
                 if let Some(register) = maybe_register {
-                    state.registers_mut()[*register] = value;
+                    registers[*register] = value;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Call frame bookkeeping
+        let top_frame = call_stack.top();
+        if top_frame.active() {
+            call_stack.top_mut().increment_ip();
+        } else {
+            // the "top" frame is inactive, which means it was created above
+            // set it to active for next instruction round
+            call_stack.top_mut().mark_active();
+
+            let maybe_penultimate_frame = call_stack.penultimate_mut();
+            match maybe_penultimate_frame {
+                None => {
+                    panic!("Invariant broken: only one call frame and it's inactive.");
+                }
+                Some(penultimate_frame) => {
+                    if penultimate_frame.active() {
+                        penultimate_frame.increment_ip();
+                    } else {
+                        panic!("Invariant broken: top two call frames are inactive.");
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
-        state.increment_ip();
     }
     None // todo: returning results from main functions
 }
diff --git a/dvm-lib/src/vm/value.rs b/dvm-lib/src/vm/value.rs
index f2c63bf..20d7ca4 100644
--- a/dvm-lib/src/vm/value.rs
+++ b/dvm-lib/src/vm/value.rs
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ impl Value {
     pub fn unwrap_int(&self) -> i32 {
         match self {
             Value::Int(i) => *i,
-            _ => panic!(),
+            _ => panic!("Attempt to unwrap Int; found {:?}", self),
         }
     }
 
     pub fn unwrap_string(&self) -> &Rc<str> {
         match self {
             Value::String(s) => s,
-            _ => panic!(),
+            _ => panic!("Attempt to unwrap String; found {:?}", self),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/call.dm b/examples/call.dm
index 81e0478..03c3170 100644
--- a/examples/call.dm
+++ b/examples/call.dm
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 extern fn println(message: Any) -> Void
 
 fn add(a: Int, b: Int) -> Int
-    a + b
+    println(a + b)
 end
 
 fn main()
-    println(add(1, 2))
+    add(1, 2)
 end
\ No newline at end of file