diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py b/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
index 4a5647b9ffdf..7561070b012f 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
     IntOp,
     LoadStatic,
     Op,
+    PrimitiveDescription,
     RaiseStandardError,
     Register,
     SetAttr,
@@ -381,6 +382,9 @@ def load_module(self, name: str) -> Value:
     def call_c(self, desc: CFunctionDescription, args: list[Value], line: int) -> Value:
         return self.builder.call_c(desc, args, line)
 
+    def primitive_op(self, desc: PrimitiveDescription, args: list[Value], line: int) -> Value:
+        return self.builder.primitive_op(desc, args, line)
+
     def int_op(self, type: RType, lhs: Value, rhs: Value, op: int, line: int) -> Value:
         return self.builder.int_op(type, lhs, rhs, op, line)
 
@@ -691,7 +695,7 @@ def assign(self, target: Register | AssignmentTarget, rvalue_reg: Value, line: i
             else:
                 key = self.load_str(target.attr)
                 boxed_reg = self.builder.box(rvalue_reg)
-                self.call_c(py_setattr_op, [target.obj, key, boxed_reg], line)
+                self.primitive_op(py_setattr_op, [target.obj, key, boxed_reg], line)
         elif isinstance(target, AssignmentTargetIndex):
             target_reg2 = self.gen_method_call(
                 target.base, "__setitem__", [target.index, rvalue_reg], None, line
@@ -768,7 +772,7 @@ def process_iterator_tuple_assignment_helper(
     def process_iterator_tuple_assignment(
         self, target: AssignmentTargetTuple, rvalue_reg: Value, line: int
     ) -> None:
-        iterator = self.call_c(iter_op, [rvalue_reg], line)
+        iterator = self.primitive_op(iter_op, [rvalue_reg], line)
 
         # This may be the whole lvalue list if there is no starred value
         split_idx = target.star_idx if target.star_idx is not None else len(target.items)
@@ -794,7 +798,7 @@ def process_iterator_tuple_assignment(
         # Assign the starred value and all values after it
         if target.star_idx is not None:
             post_star_vals = target.items[split_idx + 1 :]
-            iter_list = self.call_c(to_list, [iterator], line)
+            iter_list = self.primitive_op(to_list, [iterator], line)
             iter_list_len = self.builtin_len(iter_list, line)
             post_star_len = Integer(len(post_star_vals))
             condition = self.binary_op(post_star_len, iter_list_len, "<=", line)
@@ -1051,9 +1055,9 @@ def call_refexpr_with_args(
         # Handle data-driven special-cased primitive call ops.
         if callee.fullname and expr.arg_kinds == [ARG_POS] * len(arg_values):
             fullname = get_call_target_fullname(callee)
-            call_c_ops_candidates = function_ops.get(fullname, [])
-            target = self.builder.matching_call_c(
-                call_c_ops_candidates, arg_values, expr.line, self.node_type(expr)
+            primitive_candidates = function_ops.get(fullname, [])
+            target = self.builder.matching_primitive_op(
+                primitive_candidates, arg_values, expr.line, self.node_type(expr)
             )
             if target:
                 return target
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/classdef.py b/mypyc/irbuild/classdef.py
index 5fd55ff4b5a4..58be87c88a3f 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/classdef.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/classdef.py
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ def add_attr(self, lvalue: NameExpr, stmt: AssignmentStmt) -> None:
             return
         typ = self.builder.load_native_type_object(self.cdef.fullname)
         value = self.builder.accept(stmt.rvalue)
-        self.builder.call_c(
+        self.builder.primitive_op(
             py_setattr_op, [typ, self.builder.load_str(lvalue.name), value], stmt.line
         )
         if self.builder.non_function_scope() and stmt.is_final_def:
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ def allocate_class(builder: IRBuilder, cdef: ClassDef) -> Value:
             )
         )
     # Populate a '__mypyc_attrs__' field containing the list of attrs
-    builder.call_c(
+    builder.primitive_op(
         py_setattr_op,
         [
             tp,
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ def make_generic_base_class(
     for tv, type_param in zip(tvs, type_args):
         if type_param.kind == TYPE_VAR_TUPLE_KIND:
             # Evaluate *Ts for a TypeVarTuple
-            it = builder.call_c(iter_op, [tv], line)
+            it = builder.primitive_op(iter_op, [tv], line)
             tv = builder.call_c(next_op, [it], line)
         args.append(tv)
 
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ def setup_non_ext_dict(
     This class dictionary is passed to the metaclass constructor.
     """
     # Check if the metaclass defines a __prepare__ method, and if so, call it.
-    has_prepare = builder.call_c(
+    has_prepare = builder.primitive_op(
         py_hasattr_op, [metaclass, builder.load_str("__prepare__")], cdef.line
     )
 
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/expression.py b/mypyc/irbuild/expression.py
index 8d7c089e20cd..a2a3203d12ca 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/expression.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/expression.py
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ def translate_super_method_call(builder: IRBuilder, expr: CallExpr, callee: Supe
         # Grab first argument
         vself: Value = builder.self()
         if decl.kind == FUNC_CLASSMETHOD:
-            vself = builder.call_c(type_op, [vself], expr.line)
+            vself = builder.primitive_op(type_op, [vself], expr.line)
         elif builder.fn_info.is_generator:
             # For generator classes, the self target is the 6th value
             # in the symbol table (which is an ordered dict). This is sort
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ def transform_tuple_expr(builder: IRBuilder, expr: TupleExpr) -> Value:
 def _visit_tuple_display(builder: IRBuilder, expr: TupleExpr) -> Value:
     """Create a list, then turn it into a tuple."""
     val_as_list = _visit_list_display(builder, expr.items, expr.line)
-    return builder.call_c(list_tuple_op, [val_as_list], expr.line)
+    return builder.primitive_op(list_tuple_op, [val_as_list], expr.line)
 
 
 def transform_dict_expr(builder: IRBuilder, expr: DictExpr) -> Value:
@@ -1045,12 +1045,12 @@ def get_arg(arg: Expression | None) -> Value:
             return builder.accept(arg)
 
     args = [get_arg(expr.begin_index), get_arg(expr.end_index), get_arg(expr.stride)]
-    return builder.call_c(new_slice_op, args, expr.line)
+    return builder.primitive_op(new_slice_op, args, expr.line)
 
 
 def transform_generator_expr(builder: IRBuilder, o: GeneratorExpr) -> Value:
     builder.warning("Treating generator comprehension as list", o.line)
-    return builder.call_c(iter_op, [translate_list_comprehension(builder, o)], o.line)
+    return builder.primitive_op(iter_op, [translate_list_comprehension(builder, o)], o.line)
 
 
 def transform_assignment_expr(builder: IRBuilder, o: AssignmentExpr) -> Value:
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/for_helpers.py b/mypyc/irbuild/for_helpers.py
index ffb1fc15f228..b37c39e70f11 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/for_helpers.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/for_helpers.py
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ def init(self, expr_reg: Value, target_type: RType) -> None:
         # for the for-loop. If we are inside of a generator function, spill these into the
         # environment class.
         builder = self.builder
-        iter_reg = builder.call_c(iter_op, [expr_reg], self.line)
+        iter_reg = builder.primitive_op(iter_op, [expr_reg], self.line)
         builder.maybe_spill(expr_reg)
         self.iter_target = builder.maybe_spill(iter_reg)
         self.target_type = target_type
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/format_str_tokenizer.py b/mypyc/irbuild/format_str_tokenizer.py
index 0b46887811fb..eaa4027ed768 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/format_str_tokenizer.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/format_str_tokenizer.py
@@ -146,12 +146,12 @@ def convert_format_expr_to_str(
             if is_str_rprimitive(node_type):
                 var_str = builder.accept(x)
             elif is_int_rprimitive(node_type) or is_short_int_rprimitive(node_type):
-                var_str = builder.call_c(int_to_str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
+                var_str = builder.primitive_op(int_to_str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
             else:
-                var_str = builder.call_c(str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
+                var_str = builder.primitive_op(str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
         elif format_op == FormatOp.INT:
             if is_int_rprimitive(node_type) or is_short_int_rprimitive(node_type):
-                var_str = builder.call_c(int_to_str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
+                var_str = builder.primitive_op(int_to_str_op, [builder.accept(x)], line)
             else:
                 return None
         else:
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/function.py b/mypyc/irbuild/function.py
index 8678c1d89c58..4d04c549d392 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/function.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/function.py
@@ -433,7 +433,9 @@ def handle_ext_method(builder: IRBuilder, cdef: ClassDef, fdef: FuncDef) -> None
 
         # Set the callable object representing the decorated method as an attribute of the
         # extension class.
-        builder.call_c(py_setattr_op, [typ, builder.load_str(name), decorated_func], fdef.line)
+        builder.primitive_op(
+            py_setattr_op, [typ, builder.load_str(name), decorated_func], fdef.line
+        )
 
     if fdef.is_property:
         # If there is a property setter, it will be processed after the getter,
@@ -973,7 +975,7 @@ def generate_singledispatch_callable_class_ctor(builder: IRBuilder) -> None:
         cache_dict = builder.call_c(dict_new_op, [], line)
         dispatch_cache_str = builder.load_str("dispatch_cache")
         # use the py_setattr_op instead of SetAttr so that it also gets added to our __dict__
-        builder.call_c(py_setattr_op, [builder.self(), dispatch_cache_str, cache_dict], line)
+        builder.primitive_op(py_setattr_op, [builder.self(), dispatch_cache_str, cache_dict], line)
         # the generated C code seems to expect that __init__ returns a char, so just return 1
         builder.add(Return(Integer(1, bool_rprimitive, line), line))
 
@@ -1016,7 +1018,7 @@ def maybe_insert_into_registry_dict(builder: IRBuilder, fitem: FuncDef) -> None:
         registry_dict = builder.builder.make_dict([(loaded_object_type, main_func_obj)], line)
 
         dispatch_func_obj = builder.load_global_str(fitem.name, line)
-        builder.call_c(
+        builder.primitive_op(
             py_setattr_op, [dispatch_func_obj, builder.load_str("registry"), registry_dict], line
         )
 
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py b/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
index cb23a74c69c6..df73f8481751 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/ll_builder.py
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ def py_get_attr(self, obj: Value, attr: str, line: int) -> Value:
         Prefer get_attr() which generates optimized code for native classes.
         """
         key = self.load_str(attr)
-        return self.call_c(py_getattr_op, [obj, key], line)
+        return self.primitive_op(py_getattr_op, [obj, key], line)
 
     # isinstance() checks
 
@@ -656,7 +656,9 @@ def isinstance_native(self, obj: Value, class_ir: ClassIR, line: int) -> Value:
         """
         concrete = all_concrete_classes(class_ir)
         if concrete is None or len(concrete) > FAST_ISINSTANCE_MAX_SUBCLASSES + 1:
-            return self.call_c(fast_isinstance_op, [obj, self.get_native_type(class_ir)], line)
+            return self.primitive_op(
+                fast_isinstance_op, [obj, self.get_native_type(class_ir)], line
+            )
         if not concrete:
             # There can't be any concrete instance that matches this.
             return self.false()
@@ -857,7 +859,7 @@ def _construct_varargs(
             if star_result is None:
                 star_result = self.new_tuple(star_values, line)
             else:
-                star_result = self.call_c(list_tuple_op, [star_result], line)
+                star_result = self.primitive_op(list_tuple_op, [star_result], line)
         if has_star2 and star2_result is None:
             star2_result = self._create_dict(star2_keys, star2_values, line)
 
@@ -1515,7 +1517,7 @@ def compare_tuples(self, lhs: Value, rhs: Value, op: str, line: int = -1) -> Val
             # Cast to bool if necessary since most types uses comparison returning a object type
             # See generic_ops.py for more information
             if not is_bool_rprimitive(compare.type):
-                compare = self.call_c(bool_op, [compare], line)
+                compare = self.primitive_op(bool_op, [compare], line)
             if i < len(lhs.type.types) - 1:
                 branch = Branch(compare, early_stop, check_blocks[i + 1], Branch.BOOL)
             else:
@@ -1534,7 +1536,7 @@ def compare_tuples(self, lhs: Value, rhs: Value, op: str, line: int = -1) -> Val
     def translate_instance_contains(self, inst: Value, item: Value, op: str, line: int) -> Value:
         res = self.gen_method_call(inst, "__contains__", [item], None, line)
         if not is_bool_rprimitive(res.type):
-            res = self.call_c(bool_op, [res], line)
+            res = self.primitive_op(bool_op, [res], line)
         if op == "not in":
             res = self.bool_bitwise_op(res, Integer(1, rtype=bool_rprimitive), "^", line)
         return res
@@ -1667,7 +1669,7 @@ def new_list_op(self, values: list[Value], line: int) -> Value:
         return result_list
 
     def new_set_op(self, values: list[Value], line: int) -> Value:
-        return self.call_c(new_set_op, values, line)
+        return self.primitive_op(new_set_op, values, line)
 
     def setup_rarray(
         self, item_type: RType, values: Sequence[Value], *, object_ptr: bool = False
@@ -1775,7 +1777,7 @@ def bool_value(self, value: Value) -> Value:
                     self.goto(end)
                     self.activate_block(end)
             else:
-                result = self.call_c(bool_op, [value], value.line)
+                result = self.primitive_op(bool_op, [value], value.line)
         return result
 
     def add_bool_branch(self, value: Value, true: BasicBlock, false: BasicBlock) -> None:
@@ -2065,7 +2067,7 @@ def float_mod(self, lhs: Value, rhs: Value, line: int) -> Value:
         self.activate_block(copysign)
         # If the remainder is zero, CPython ensures the result has the
         # same sign as the denominator.
-        adj = self.call_c(copysign_op, [Float(0.0), rhs], line)
+        adj = self.primitive_op(copysign_op, [Float(0.0), rhs], line)
         self.add(Assign(res, adj))
         self.add(Goto(done))
         self.activate_block(done)
@@ -2260,7 +2262,7 @@ def new_tuple_with_length(self, length: Value, line: int) -> Value:
         return self.call_c(new_tuple_with_length_op, [length], line)
 
     def int_to_float(self, n: Value, line: int) -> Value:
-        return self.call_c(int_to_float_op, [n], line)
+        return self.primitive_op(int_to_float_op, [n], line)
 
     # Internal helpers
 
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/match.py b/mypyc/irbuild/match.py
index a1e671911ea5..976a8810b327 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/match.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/match.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def visit_class_pattern(self, pattern: ClassPattern) -> None:
             else slow_isinstance_op
         )
 
-        cond = self.builder.call_c(
+        cond = self.builder.primitive_op(
             isinstance_op, [self.subject, self.builder.accept(pattern.class_ref)], pattern.line
         )
 
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def visit_mapping_pattern(self, pattern: MappingPattern) -> None:
             self.builder.activate_block(self.code_block)
             self.code_block = BasicBlock()
 
-            rest = self.builder.call_c(dict_copy, [self.subject], pattern.rest.line)
+            rest = self.builder.primitive_op(dict_copy, [self.subject], pattern.rest.line)
 
             target = self.builder.get_assignment_target(pattern.rest)
 
diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/statement.py b/mypyc/irbuild/statement.py
index ac3fa33f36ca..bd4acccf077a 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/statement.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/statement.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
     LoadLiteral,
     LoadStatic,
     MethodCall,
+    PrimitiveDescription,
     RaiseStandardError,
     Register,
     Return,
@@ -757,7 +758,7 @@ def transform_with(
         value = builder.add(MethodCall(mgr_v, f"__{al}enter__", args=[], line=line))
         exit_ = None
     else:
-        typ = builder.call_c(type_op, [mgr_v], line)
+        typ = builder.primitive_op(type_op, [mgr_v], line)
         exit_ = builder.maybe_spill(builder.py_get_attr(typ, f"__{al}exit__", line))
         value = builder.py_call(builder.py_get_attr(typ, f"__{al}enter__", line), [mgr_v], line)
 
@@ -876,7 +877,7 @@ def transform_del_item(builder: IRBuilder, target: AssignmentTarget, line: int)
                     line,
                 )
         key = builder.load_str(target.attr)
-        builder.call_c(py_delattr_op, [target.obj, key], line)
+        builder.primitive_op(py_delattr_op, [target.obj, key], line)
     elif isinstance(target, AssignmentTargetRegister):
         # Delete a local by assigning an error value to it, which will
         # prompt the insertion of uninit checks.
@@ -924,7 +925,10 @@ def emit_yield_from_or_await(
     received_reg = Register(object_rprimitive)
 
     get_op = coro_op if is_await else iter_op
-    iter_val = builder.call_c(get_op, [val], line)
+    if isinstance(get_op, PrimitiveDescription):
+        iter_val = builder.primitive_op(get_op, [val], line)
+    else:
+        iter_val = builder.call_c(get_op, [val], line)
 
     iter_reg = builder.maybe_spill_assignable(iter_val)
 
diff --git a/mypyc/primitives/registry.py b/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
index 5190b01adf4a..25ad83be14f5 100644
--- a/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
+++ b/mypyc/primitives/registry.py
@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ class LoadAddressDescription(NamedTuple):
     src: str  # name of the target to load
 
 
-# CallC op for method call(such as 'str.join')
+# CallC op for method call (such as 'str.join')
 method_call_ops: dict[str, list[CFunctionDescription]] = {}
 
-# CallC op for top level function call(such as 'builtins.list')
-function_ops: dict[str, list[CFunctionDescription]] = {}
+# Primitive ops for top level function call (such as 'builtins.list')
+function_ops: dict[str, list[PrimitiveDescription]] = {}
 
-# CallC op for binary ops
+# Primitive ops for binary operations
 binary_ops: dict[str, list[PrimitiveDescription]] = {}
 
 # CallC op for unary ops
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ def function_op(
     steals: StealsDescription = False,
     is_borrowed: bool = False,
     priority: int = 1,
-) -> CFunctionDescription:
-    """Define a c function call op that replaces a function call.
+) -> PrimitiveDescription:
+    """Define a C function call op that replaces a function call.
 
     This will be automatically generated by matching against the AST.
 
@@ -175,19 +175,19 @@ def function_op(
     if extra_int_constants is None:
         extra_int_constants = []
     ops = function_ops.setdefault(name, [])
-    desc = CFunctionDescription(
+    desc = PrimitiveDescription(
         name,
         arg_types,
         return_type,
-        var_arg_type,
-        truncated_type,
-        c_function_name,
-        error_kind,
-        steals,
-        is_borrowed,
-        ordering,
-        extra_int_constants,
-        priority,
+        var_arg_type=var_arg_type,
+        truncated_type=truncated_type,
+        c_function_name=c_function_name,
+        error_kind=error_kind,
+        steals=steals,
+        is_borrowed=is_borrowed,
+        ordering=ordering,
+        extra_int_constants=extra_int_constants,
+        priority=priority,
         is_pure=False,
     )
     ops.append(desc)
diff --git a/mypyc/test/test_cheader.py b/mypyc/test/test_cheader.py
index f2af41c22ea9..08b5a4648ca5 100644
--- a/mypyc/test/test_cheader.py
+++ b/mypyc/test/test_cheader.py
@@ -26,18 +26,14 @@ def check_name(name: str) -> None:
                     rf"\b{name}\b", header
                 ), f'"{name}" is used in mypyc.primitives but not declared in CPy.h'
 
-        for old_values in [
-            registry.method_call_ops.values(),
-            registry.function_ops.values(),
-            registry.unary_ops.values(),
-        ]:
+        for old_values in [registry.method_call_ops.values(), registry.unary_ops.values()]:
             for old_ops in old_values:
                 if isinstance(old_ops, CFunctionDescription):
                     old_ops = [old_ops]
                 for old_op in old_ops:
                     check_name(old_op.c_function_name)
 
-        for values in [registry.binary_ops.values()]:
+        for values in [registry.binary_ops.values(), registry.function_ops.values()]:
             for ops in values:
                 if isinstance(ops, PrimitiveDescription):
                     ops = [ops]