diff --git a/rec-tick.fs b/rec-tick.fs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..33271efeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rec-tick.fs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+\ (back-)tick recognizer
+\ `foo puts the xt of foo on the stack like ' foo does
+
+\ Copyright (C) 2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+\ This file is part of Gforth.
+
+\ Gforth is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+\ modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+\ as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3
+\ of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+\ This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+\ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+\ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+\ GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+\ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+\ along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
+
+' noop  ' lit,  ' lit, rectype: rectype-tick
+
+: rec-tick ( addr u -- xt rectype-tick | rectype-null )
+    \G words prefixed with @code{'`'} return their xt.
+    \G Example: @code{`dup} gives the xt of dup
+    over c@ '`' <> if 2drop rectype-null exit then
+    1 /string find-name
+    dup 0= if drop rectype-null exit then
+    rectype-tick ;
+
+' rec-tick forth-recognizer >back
diff --git a/smartdots.fs b/smartdots.fs
index b1229f5c5..b795fe7ac 100644
--- a/smartdots.fs
+++ b/smartdots.fs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 : .string. ( addr u -- )
     '"' emit type '"' emit space ;
 : .addr. ( addr -- )
-    dup >name dup IF  ." '" .name drop  ELSE  drop hex.  THEN ;
+    dup >name dup IF  ." `" .name drop  ELSE  drop hex.  THEN ;
 : .var. ( addr -- )
     dup body> >name dup IF  .name drop  ELSE  drop hex.  THEN ;
 
diff --git a/startup.fs b/startup.fs
index 042de8771..543c27dd4 100644
--- a/startup.fs
+++ b/startup.fs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ require history.fs
 require quotes.fs
 require rec-string.fs
 require rec-to.fs
+require rec-tick.fs
 require substitute.fs
 require code.fs
 require see.fs