diff --git a/underscore.js b/underscore.js
index 57f2659ab..ba8450011 100644
--- a/underscore.js
+++ b/underscore.js
@@ -379,10 +379,11 @@
   _.compose = function() {
     var funcs = _.toArray(arguments);
     return function() {
+      var args = _.toArray(arguments);
       for (var i=funcs.length-1; i >= 0; i--) {
-        arguments = [funcs[i].apply(this, arguments)];
+        args = [funcs[i].apply(this, args)];
       }
-      return arguments[0];
+      return args[0];
     };
   };