diff --git a/hy/core/macros.hy b/hy/core/macros.hy
index c266256..d3951fc 100644
--- a/hy/core/macros.hy
+++ b/hy/core/macros.hy
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ be associated in pairs."
                                                other-kvs))]))))
 
 
-(defmacro _with [node args &rest body]
+(defn _with [node args body]
   (if (not (empty? args))
     (do
      (if (>= (len args) 2)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ be associated in pairs."
         (setv p1 (.pop args 0)
               p2 (.pop args 0)
               primary [p1 p2])
-        `(~node [~@primary] (_with ~node ~args ~@body)))
+        `(~node [~@primary] ~(_with node args body)))
        `(~node [~@args] ~@body)))
     `(do ~@body)))
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Shorthand for nested with* loops:
   (with* [x foo]
     (with* [y bar]
       baz))."
-  `(_with with* ~args ~@body))
+  (_with 'with* args body))
 
 
 (defmacro with/a [args &rest body]
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Shorthand for nested with/a* loops:
   (with/a* [x foo]
     (with/a* [y bar]
       baz))."
-  `(_with with/a* ~args ~@body))
+  (_with 'with/a* args body))
 
 
 (defmacro cond [&rest branches]
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ used as the result."
      root)))
 
 
-(defmacro _for [node args &rest body]
+(defn _for [node args body]
   (setv body (list body))
   (if (empty? body)
     (macro-error None "`for' requires a body to evaluate"))
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ used as the result."
 
 Args may contain multiple pairs, in which case it executes a nested for-loop
 in order of the given pairs."
-  `(_for for* ~args ~@body))
+  (_for 'for* args body))
 
 
 (defmacro for/a [args &rest body]
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ in order of the given pairs."
 
 Args may contain multiple pairs, in which case it executes a nested for/a-loop
 in order of the given pairs."
-  `(_for for/a* ~args ~@body))
+  (_for 'for/a* args body))
 
 
 (defmacro -> [head &rest rest]