# this is something like the code from my AUTOLOAD
    # if they call the function the old way, we never
    # get in here... if they call the function with
    # _r on the end, it gets here, strips off the _r
    # and calls the old function. :)

    API->use_the_new_way
    
    $return_value = &{ $func }( @_ );

    API->go_back_to_the_old_way

    return $return_value;