diff --git a/IPython/parallel/client/client.py b/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
index 7b8735f..82e1e0a 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/client/client.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from IPython.utils.traitlets import (HasTraits, Integer, Instance, Unicode,
 from IPython.external.decorator import decorator
 from IPython.external.ssh import tunnel
 
+from IPython.parallel import Reference
 from IPython.parallel import error
 from IPython.parallel import util
 
@@ -982,7 +983,7 @@ class Client(HasTraits):
         subheader = subheader if subheader is not None else {}
 
         # validate arguments
-        if not callable(f):
+        if not callable(f) and not isinstance(f, Reference):
             raise TypeError("f must be callable, not %s"%type(f))
         if not isinstance(args, (tuple, list)):
             raise TypeError("args must be tuple or list, not %s"%type(args))
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/client/remotefunction.py b/IPython/parallel/client/remotefunction.py
index f7850f6..ea47005 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/client/remotefunction.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/client/remotefunction.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from . import map as Map
 from .asyncresult import AsyncMapResult
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Decorators
+# Functions and Decorators
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 @skip_doctest
@@ -60,6 +60,25 @@ def parallel(view, dist='b', block=None, ordered=True, **flags):
         return ParallelFunction(view, f, dist=dist, block=block, ordered=ordered, **flags)
     return parallel_function
 
+def getname(f):
+    """Get the name of an object.
+    
+    For use in case of callables that are not functions, and
+    thus may not have __name__ defined.
+    
+    Order: f.__name__ >  f.name > str(f)
+    """
+    try:
+        return f.__name__
+    except:
+        pass
+    try:
+        return f.name
+    except:
+        pass
+    
+    return str(f)
+
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -194,7 +213,7 @@ class ParallelFunction(RemoteFunction):
             msg_ids.append(ar.msg_ids[0])
 
         r = AsyncMapResult(self.view.client, msg_ids, self.mapObject, 
-                            fname=self.func.__name__,
+                            fname=getname(self.func),
                             ordered=self.ordered
                         )
 
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/client/view.py b/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
index 92e876f..60388b1 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from IPython.parallel.controller.dependency import Dependency, dependent
 
 from . import map as Map
 from .asyncresult import AsyncResult, AsyncMapResult
-from .remotefunction import ParallelFunction, parallel, remote
+from .remotefunction import ParallelFunction, parallel, remote, getname
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Decorators
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ class DirectView(View):
                 trackers.append(msg['tracker'])
             msg_ids.append(msg['header']['msg_id'])
         tracker = None if track is False else zmq.MessageTracker(*trackers)
-        ar = AsyncResult(self.client, msg_ids, fname=f.__name__, targets=targets, tracker=tracker)
+        ar = AsyncResult(self.client, msg_ids, fname=getname(f), targets=targets, tracker=tracker)
         if block:
             try:
                 return ar.get()
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ class LoadBalancedView(View):
                                 subheader=subheader)
         tracker = None if track is False else msg['tracker']
 
-        ar = AsyncResult(self.client, msg['header']['msg_id'], fname=f.__name__, targets=None, tracker=tracker)
+        ar = AsyncResult(self.client, msg['header']['msg_id'], fname=getname(f), targets=None, tracker=tracker)
 
         if block:
             try:
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/tests/test_view.py b/IPython/parallel/tests/test_view.py
index 6e3e559..fa0a9c1 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/tests/test_view.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/tests/test_view.py
@@ -469,4 +469,25 @@ class TestView(ClusterTestCase):
                 else:
                     raise e
     
+    def test_map_reference(self):
+        """view.map(<Reference>, *seqs) should work"""
+        v = self.client[:]
+        v.scatter('n', self.client.ids, flatten=True)
+        v.execute("f = lambda x,y: x*y")
+        rf = pmod.Reference('f')
+        nlist = list(range(10))
+        mlist = nlist[::-1]
+        expected = [ m*n for m,n in zip(mlist, nlist) ]
+        result = v.map_sync(rf, mlist, nlist)
+        self.assertEquals(result, expected)
+
+    def test_apply_reference(self):
+        """view.apply(<Reference>, *args) should work"""
+        v = self.client[:]
+        v.scatter('n', self.client.ids, flatten=True)
+        v.execute("f = lambda x: n*x")
+        rf = pmod.Reference('f')
+        result = v.apply_sync(rf, 5)
+        expected = [ 5*id for id in self.client.ids ]
+        self.assertEquals(result, expected)