diff --git a/pyreadline/modes/basemode.py b/pyreadline/modes/basemode.py
index 0ff07e8..8221907 100644
--- a/pyreadline/modes/basemode.py
+++ b/pyreadline/modes/basemode.py
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ class BaseMode(object):
 
     def _bind_key(self, key, func):
         u"""setup the mapping from key to call the function."""
-        if type(func) != type(self._bind_key):
+        if not callable(func):
             print u"Trying to bind non method to keystroke:%s,%s"%(key,func)
-            raise PyreadlineError(u"Trying to bind non method to keystroke:%s,%s,%s,%s"%(key,func,type(func),type(self._bind_key)))
+            raise ReadlineError(u"Trying to bind non method to keystroke:%s,%s,%s,%s"%(key,func,type(func),type(self._bind_key)))
         keyinfo = make_KeyPress_from_keydescr(key.lower()).tuple()
         log(u">>>%s -> %s<<<"%(keyinfo,func.__name__))
         self.key_dispatch[keyinfo] = func
diff --git a/pyreadline/rlmain.py b/pyreadline/rlmain.py
index 62e341c..64a01ce 100644
--- a/pyreadline/rlmain.py
+++ b/pyreadline/rlmain.py
@@ -272,7 +272,10 @@ class BaseReadline(object):
             self.mode = modes[name]
 
         def bind_key(key, name):
-            if hasattr(modes[mode], name):
+            import new
+            if callable(name):
+                modes[mode]._bind_key(key, new.instancemethod(name, modes[mode], modes[mode].__class__))
+            elif hasattr(modes[mode], name):
                 modes[mode]._bind_key(key, getattr(modes[mode], name))
             else:
                 print u"Trying to bind unknown command '%s' to key '%s'"%(name, key)