diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index ae78355854..75c4099bf6 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -10339,7 +10339,8 @@ f_function(argvars, rettv)
     s = get_tv_string(&argvars[0]);
     if (s == NULL || *s == NUL || VIM_ISDIGIT(*s))
 	EMSG2(_(e_invarg2), s);
-    else if (!function_exists(s))
+    /* Don't check an autoload name for existence here. */
+    else if (vim_strchr(s, AUTOLOAD_CHAR) == NULL && !function_exists(s))
 	EMSG2(_("E700: Unknown function: %s"), s);
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 9871ab481f..01fba18a88 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -676,6 +676,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    61,
 /**/
     60,
 /**/