diff --git a/core/combinators/combinators.factor b/core/combinators/combinators.factor
index e19847dbd4..276e4cb184 100755
--- a/core/combinators/combinators.factor
+++ b/core/combinators/combinators.factor
@@ -12,11 +12,17 @@ hashtables sorting ;
     [ [ keep ] curry ] map concat [ drop ] append ;
 
 : 2cleave ( x seq -- )
-    [ [ call ] 3keep drop ] each 2drop ;
+    [ 2keep ] each 2drop ;
 
 : 2cleave>quot ( seq -- quot )
     [ [ 2keep ] curry ] map concat [ 2drop ] append ;
 
+: 3cleave ( x seq -- )
+    [ 3keep ] each 3drop ;
+
+: 3cleave>quot ( seq -- quot )
+    [ [ 3keep ] curry ] map concat [ 3drop ] append ;
+
 : spread>quot ( seq -- quot )
     [ length [ >r ] <repetition> concat ]
     [ [ [ r> ] prepend ] map concat ] bi
diff --git a/core/inference/transforms/transforms.factor b/core/inference/transforms/transforms.factor
index 200208c6a5..4d636c24f2 100755
--- a/core/inference/transforms/transforms.factor
+++ b/core/inference/transforms/transforms.factor
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ IN: inference.transforms
 
 \ 2cleave [ 2cleave>quot ] 1 define-transform
 
+\ 3cleave [ 3cleave>quot ] 1 define-transform
+
 \ spread [ spread>quot ] 1 define-transform
 
 ! Bitfields