Index: src/pmc/pmcproxy.pmc
===================================================================
--- src/pmc/pmcproxy.pmc	(revision 45246)
+++ src/pmc/pmcproxy.pmc	(working copy)
@@ -318,15 +318,12 @@
 */
 
     VTABLE INTVAL does(STRING *role_name) {
-        Parrot_Class_attributes *_class  = PARROT_CLASS(SELF);
-        INTVAL                   id      = _class->id;
-        PMC                     *proxied = Parrot_pmc_new(interp, id);
-
-        if (VTABLE_does(interp, proxied, role_name))
+        Parrot_Class_attributes * const attrs = PARROT_CLASS(SELF);
+        const INTVAL id = attrs->id;
+        const INTVAL type_does = Parrot_pmc_type_does(INTERP, role_name, id);
+        if (type_does)
             return 1;
-
-        return VTABLE_isa(interp, proxied, role_name);
-
+        return VTABLE_isa(INTERP, SELF, role_name);
     }
 
 /*
Index: src/pmc/default.pmc
===================================================================
--- src/pmc/default.pmc	(revision 45246)
+++ src/pmc/default.pmc	(working copy)
@@ -280,52 +280,6 @@
     return prop;
 }
 
-/*
-
-=item C<static INTVAL does_isa(PARROT_INTERP, const STRING *method, const STRING
-*what)>
-
-Compares C<*method> and C<*what>.
-Returns true (1) if B<method> is found in B<what>, false (0) otherwise.
-
-=cut
-
-*/
-
-static INTVAL
-does_isa(PARROT_INTERP, ARGIN(const STRING *method), ARGIN(const STRING *what))
-{
-    const INTVAL length = Parrot_str_byte_length(interp, what);
-    INTVAL  pos    = 0;
-
-    do {
-        INTVAL len;
-        INTVAL idx = Parrot_str_find_index(interp, what, method, (INTVAL)pos);
-
-        if (idx < 0)
-            return 0;
-
-        pos = idx;
-
-        if (pos >= length)
-            return 0;
-
-        len = Parrot_str_byte_length(interp, method);
-
-        if (pos && Parrot_str_indexed(interp, what, pos - 1) != 32) {
-            pos += len;
-            continue;
-        }
-
-        if (pos + len < length && Parrot_str_indexed(interp, what, pos + len) != 32) {
-            pos += len;
-            continue;
-        }
-
-        return 1;
-    } while (1);
-}
-
 pmclass default abstract {
 
 /*
@@ -919,7 +873,7 @@
 */
 
     VTABLE INTVAL does(STRING *_interface) {
-        return does_isa(INTERP, _interface, SELF->vtable->provides_str);
+        return Parrot_pmc_type_does(INTERP, _interface, SELF->vtable->base_type);
     }
 
 /*
Index: src/pmc.c
===================================================================
--- src/pmc.c	(revision 45246)
+++ src/pmc.c	(working copy)
@@ -963,6 +963,53 @@
 
 /*
 
+=item C<INTVAL Parrot_pmc_type_does(PARROT_INTERP, STRING *role, INTVAL type)>
+
+Checks to see if PMCs of the given type does the given role. Checks
+C<<vtable->provides_str>> to find a match.
+Returns true (1) if B<role> is found, false (0) otherwise.
+
+=cut
+
+*/
+
+INTVAL
+Parrot_pmc_type_does(PARROT_INTERP, ARGIN(STRING *role), INTVAL type)
+{
+    INTVAL pos = 0;
+    STRING * const what = interp->vtables[type]->provides_str;
+    INTVAL length = Parrot_str_byte_length(interp, what);
+
+    do {
+        INTVAL len;
+        INTVAL idx = Parrot_str_find_index(interp, what, role, (INTVAL)pos);
+
+        if (idx < 0)
+            return 0;
+
+        pos = idx;
+
+        if (pos >= length)
+            return 0;
+
+        len = Parrot_str_byte_length(interp, role);
+
+        if (pos && Parrot_str_indexed(interp, what, pos - 1) != 32) {
+            pos += len;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (pos + len < length && Parrot_str_indexed(interp, what, pos + len) != 32) {
+            pos += len;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        return 1;
+    } while (1);
+}
+
+/*
+
 =back
 
 =head1 SEE ALSO
Index: include/parrot/pmc.h
===================================================================
--- include/parrot/pmc.h	(revision 45246)
+++ include/parrot/pmc.h	(working copy)
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@
 PMC * Parrot_pmc_new_temporary(PARROT_INTERP, INTVAL base_type)
         __attribute__nonnull__(1);
 
+INTVAL Parrot_pmc_type_does(PARROT_INTERP,
+    ARGIN(STRING *method),
+    INTVAL type)
+        __attribute__nonnull__(1)
+        __attribute__nonnull__(2);
+
 #define ASSERT_ARGS_Parrot_pmc_create_mro __attribute__unused__ int _ASSERT_ARGS_CHECK = (\
        PARROT_ASSERT_ARG(interp))
 #define ASSERT_ARGS_Parrot_pmc_destroy __attribute__unused__ int _ASSERT_ARGS_CHECK = (\
@@ -203,6 +209,9 @@
        PARROT_ASSERT_ARG(interp))
 #define ASSERT_ARGS_Parrot_pmc_new_temporary __attribute__unused__ int _ASSERT_ARGS_CHECK = (\
        PARROT_ASSERT_ARG(interp))
+#define ASSERT_ARGS_Parrot_pmc_type_does __attribute__unused__ int _ASSERT_ARGS_CHECK = (\
+       PARROT_ASSERT_ARG(interp) \
+    , PARROT_ASSERT_ARG(method))
 /* Don't modify between HEADERIZER BEGIN / HEADERIZER END.  Your changes will be lost. */
 /* HEADERIZER END: src/pmc.c */
 
Index: t/pmc/handle.t
===================================================================
--- t/pmc/handle.t	(revision 45246)
+++ t/pmc/handle.t	(working copy)
@@ -20,14 +20,36 @@
 .sub main :main
     .include 'test_more.pir'
 
-    plan(1)
+    plan(2)
+    'test_create'()
+    'test_does_tt_1473'()
+.end
+
+.sub 'test_create'
     push_eh cant_instantiate
     $P0 = new 'Handle'
-    print "not "
+    ok(0, "Can instantiate an abstract type")
+    pop_eh
+    goto create_end
   cant_instantiate:
-    say "ok 1"
+    ok(1, "Cannot instantiate an abstract type")
+    pop_eh
+  create_end:
 .end
 
+.sub 'test_does_tt_1473'
+    push_eh cant_do_does
+    $P0 = get_class 'Handle'
+    $I0 = does $P0, 'Handle'
+    ok($I0, "Handle does Handle")
+    goto does_end
+  cant_do_does:
+    ok(0, "Does throws an exception")
+  does_end:
+    pop_eh
+.end
+
+
 # Local Variables:
 #   mode: pir
 #   fill-column: 100