D:\>echo Can't call method "Filesys::DiskSpace::df" without a package or object reference at ./try.pl line 27. | splain Can't call method "Filesys::DiskSpace::df" without a package or object reference at ./try.pl line 27. (#1) (F) You used the syntax of a method call, but the slot filled by the object reference or package name contains an expression that returns a defined value which is neither an object reference nor a package name. Something like this will reproduce the error: $BADREF = 42; process $BADREF 1,2,3; $BADREF->process(1,2,3);