diff --git a/stead/stead.lua b/stead/stead.lua
index 9542b11..09442b3 100644
--- a/stead/stead.lua
+++ b/stead/stead.lua
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ function stead.getcmd(str)
 	return cmd, a
 end
 
+stead.tostring = function(v)
+	if isCode(v) then
+		v = stead.string.format("code %q", stead.functions[v].code);
+	elseif type(v) == 'string' then
+		v = stead.string.format("%q", v);
+	elseif v == nil or type(v) == 'boolean' or type(v) == 'number' then
+		v = tostring(v);
+	else
+		v = nil
+	end
+	return v
+end
+
 function cctx()
 	return stead.cctx[stead.call_top];
 end
@@ -1017,8 +1030,11 @@ function phrase_save(self, name, h, need)
 		if isDisabled(self) then
 			m = " = _phr("
 		end
-		h:write(stead.string.format("%s%s%q,%q,%q);\n", 
-			name, m, tostring(self.dsc), tostring(self.ans), tostring(self.do_act)));
+		h:write(stead.string.format("%s%s%s,%s,%s);\n", 
+			name, m, 
+			stead.tostring(self.dsc), 
+			stead.tostring(self.ans), 
+			stead.tostring(self.do_act)));
 	end
 	savemembers(h, self, name, false);
 end
diff --git a/stead/xact.lua b/stead/xact.lua
index 4ff66bd..e3af2b7 100644
--- a/stead/xact.lua
+++ b/stead/xact.lua
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ xact = function(n, f) -- just simple action!
 		n = n[1];
 	end
 
-	if type(n) ~= 'string' or (type(f) ~= 'string' and not isCode(f) and type(f) ~= 'boolean') then
+	if type(n) ~= 'string' then
 		error ("Wrong parameter to xact.", 2)
 	end
 	v.xaction_type = true
@@ -20,10 +20,9 @@ xact = function(n, f) -- just simple action!
 	v.save = function(self, name, h, need)
 		if need then
 			local f = self.act;
-			if isCode(f) then
-				f = stead.string.format("code %q", stead.functions[f].code);
-			else
-				f = stead.string.format("%q", f);
+			f = stead.tostring(f);
+			if f == nil then
+				error("Can not save xact: "..name);
 			end
 			h:write(stead.string.format("%s = xact(%q, %s);\n", name, self.nam, f))
 		end