diff --git a/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.cpp b/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.cpp
index ba1b4f171..b920eaa89 100644
--- a/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.cpp
@@ -64,17 +64,30 @@ namespace recfun {
         m_decl = m.mk_func_decl(s, arity, domain, range, info);
     }
 
+    bool def::contains_def(util& u, expr * e) {
+        struct def_find_p : public i_expr_pred {
+            util& u;
+            def_find_p(util& u): u(u) {}
+            bool operator()(expr* a) override { return is_app(a) && u.is_defined(to_app(a)->get_decl()); }
+        };
+        def_find_p p(u);
+        check_pred cp(p, m, false);
+        return cp(e);
+    }
+
     // does `e` contain any `ite` construct?
-    bool def::contains_ite(expr * e) {
+    bool def::contains_ite(util& u, expr * e) {
         struct ite_find_p : public i_expr_pred {
             ast_manager & m;
-            ite_find_p(ast_manager & m) : m(m) {}
-            bool operator()(expr * e) override { return m.is_ite(e); }
+            def& d;
+            util& u;
+            ite_find_p(ast_manager & m, def& d, util& u) : m(m), d(d), u(u) {}
+            bool operator()(expr * e) override { return m.is_ite(e) && d.contains_def(u, e); }
         };
         // ignore ites under quantifiers.
         // this is redundant as the code
         // that unfolds ites uses quantifier-free portion.
-        ite_find_p p(m);
+        ite_find_p p(m, *this, u);
         check_pred cp(p, m, false);
         return cp(e);
     }
@@ -189,7 +202,8 @@ namespace recfun {
 
 
     // Compute a set of cases, given the RHS
-    void def::compute_cases(replace& subst, 
+    void def::compute_cases(util& u,
+                            replace& subst, 
                             is_immediate_pred & is_i, 
                             unsigned n_vars, var *const * vars, expr* rhs)
     {
@@ -209,7 +223,7 @@ namespace recfun {
         expr_ref_vector conditions(m);
 
         // is the function a macro (unconditional body)?
-        if (n_vars == 0 || !contains_ite(rhs)) {
+        if (n_vars == 0 || !contains_ite(u, rhs)) {
             // constant function or trivial control flow, only one (dummy) case
             add_case(name, 0, conditions, rhs);
             return;
@@ -248,7 +262,7 @@ namespace recfun {
                     else if (is_app(e)) {
                         // explore arguments
                         for (expr * arg : *to_app(e)) {
-                            if (contains_ite(arg)) {
+                            if (contains_ite(u, arg)) {
                                 stack.push_back(arg);
                             }
                         }
@@ -361,7 +375,7 @@ namespace recfun {
         SASSERT(n_vars == d->get_arity());
                     
         is_imm_pred is_i(*u);
-        d->compute_cases(r, is_i, n_vars, vars, rhs);
+        d->compute_cases(*u, r, is_i, n_vars, vars, rhs);
     }
 
     namespace decl {
diff --git a/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.h b/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.h
index 786ea9dd2..90de7e0a0 100644
--- a/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.h
+++ b/src/ast/recfun_decl_plugin.h
@@ -111,10 +111,11 @@ namespace recfun {
         def(ast_manager &m, family_id fid, symbol const & s, unsigned arity, sort *const * domain, sort* range, bool is_generated);
 
         // compute cases for a function, given its RHS (possibly containing `ite`).
-        void compute_cases(replace& subst, is_immediate_pred &, 
+        void compute_cases(util& u, replace& subst, is_immediate_pred &, 
                            unsigned n_vars, var *const * vars, expr* rhs);
         void add_case(std::string & name, unsigned case_index, expr_ref_vector const& conditions, expr* rhs, bool is_imm = false);
-        bool contains_ite(expr* e); // expression contains a test?
+        bool contains_ite(util& u, expr* e); // expression contains a test?
+        bool contains_def(util& u, expr* e); // expression contains a def
     public:
         symbol const & get_name() const { return m_name; }
         vars const & get_vars() const { return m_vars; }