diff --git a/pila.c b/pila.c
index 0ad140c..823f765 100644
--- a/pila.c
+++ b/pila.c
@@ -387,14 +387,30 @@ compile_end_nat(RpnState *st)
 	add_word(st, w);
 }
 
-void
-tick_nat(RpnState *st)
+Str
+next_word(RpnState *st)
+{
+	skip_whitespace(&st->rsp, st->rep);
+	return read_word_name(&st->rsp, st->rep);
+}
+
+Word *
+next_word_read_get(RpnState *st)
 {
 	Str wn;
 	skip_whitespace(&st->rsp, st->rep);
 	wn = read_word_name(&st->rsp, st->rep);
 	wn = Str_new(wn.s, wn.len);
 	Word *w = search_word(st, wn);
+	if (w == nil)
+		return nil;
+	return w;
+}
+
+void
+tick_nat(RpnState *st)
+{
+	Word *w = next_word_read_get(st);
 	if (w == nil) {
 		push_val(st, BOX_INTN(0));
 		return;
@@ -442,9 +458,7 @@ to_number_nat(RpnState *st)
 void
 parse_word_nat(RpnState *st)
 {
-	skip_whitespace(&st->rsp, st->rep);
-	Str wn = read_word_name(&st->rsp, st->rep);
-	push_val(st, BOX_STR(wn));
+	push_val(st, BOX_STR(next_word(st)));
 }
 
 void