diff --git a/signal.hpp b/signal.hpp
index 7dbe49c7..ea2375aa 100644
--- a/signal.hpp
+++ b/signal.hpp
@@ -189,6 +189,17 @@ namespace cruft {
     };
 
 
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Function references are _actually_ used as if they are std::function
+    // objects in our libraries.
+    //
+    // TODO: avoid this implicit conversion without need a massive rewrite.
+    template <typename ReturnT, typename ...ArgsT>
+    class signal<ReturnT(ArgsT...)> :
+        public signal<std::function<ReturnT(ArgsT...)>>
+    { };
+
+
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // wrap a value in a signal and trigger on assignment
     //template <typename T, template <typename> class ReductionT>