diff --git a/examples/sha256.rs b/examples/sha256.rs
index 5c8fa6df36..94fd275a3d 100644
--- a/examples/sha256.rs
+++ b/examples/sha256.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ use lurk::field::LurkField;
 use lurk::proof::{nova::NovaProver, Prover};
 use lurk::ptr::Ptr;
 use lurk::public_parameters::public_params;
+use lurk::state::user_sym;
 use lurk::store::Store;
-use lurk::sym;
 use lurk_macros::Coproc;
 
 use bellperson::gadgets::boolean::{AllocatedBit, Boolean};
@@ -170,18 +170,15 @@ fn main() {
     u.reverse();
 
     let store = &mut Store::<Fr>::new();
-    let sym_str = sym!("sha256", format!("{}-zero-bytes", input_size));
+    let cproc_sym = user_sym(&format!("sha256-{input_size}-zero-bytes"));
+    let cproc_sym_ptr = store.intern_symbol(&cproc_sym);
 
     let lang = Lang::<Fr, Sha256Coproc<Fr>>::new_with_bindings(
         store,
-        vec![(
-            sym_str.clone(),
-            Sha256Coprocessor::new(input_size, u).into(),
-        )],
+        vec![(cproc_sym, Sha256Coprocessor::new(input_size, u).into())],
     );
 
-    let coproc_expr = format!("({})", sym_str);
-    let ptr = store.read(&coproc_expr).unwrap();
+    let cproc_call = store.list(&[cproc_sym_ptr]);
 
     let nova_prover = NovaProver::<Fr, Sha256Coproc<Fr>>::new(REDUCTION_COUNT, lang.clone());
     let lang_rc = Arc::new(lang);
@@ -202,7 +199,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     let proof_start = Instant::now();
     let (proof, z0, zi, num_steps) = nova_prover
-        .evaluate_and_prove(&pp, ptr, empty_sym_env(store), store, 10000, lang_rc)
+        .evaluate_and_prove(&pp, cproc_call, empty_sym_env(store), store, 10000, lang_rc)
         .unwrap();
     let proof_end = proof_start.elapsed();
 
diff --git a/src/proof/nova.rs b/src/proof/nova.rs
index 39ba54acb3..5b165586e2 100644
--- a/src/proof/nova.rs
+++ b/src/proof/nova.rs
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ impl<'a: 'b, 'b, F: CurveCycleEquipped, C: Coprocessor<F>> Proof<'a, F, C> {
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub mod tests {
     use crate::num::Num;
-    use crate::state::State;
+    use crate::state::{State, user_sym};
 
     use super::*;
     use crate::eval::empty_sym_env;
@@ -3675,26 +3675,25 @@ pub mod tests {
     fn test_dumb_lang() {
         use crate::coprocessor::test::DumbCoprocessor;
         use crate::eval::tests::coproc::DumbCoproc;
-        use crate::symbol::Symbol;
 
         let s = &mut Store::<Fr>::new();
 
         let mut lang = Lang::<Fr, DumbCoproc<Fr>>::new();
-        let name = Symbol::sym(&["cproc", "dumb"]);
+        let name = user_sym("cproc-dumb");
         let dumb = DumbCoprocessor::new();
         let coproc = DumbCoproc::DC(dumb);
 
         lang.add_coprocessor(name, coproc, s);
 
         // 9^2 + 8 = 89
-        let expr = "(.cproc.dumb 9 8)";
+        let expr = "(cproc-dumb 9 8)";
 
         // The dumb coprocessor cannot be shadowed.
-        let expr2 = "(let ((.cproc.dumb (lambda (a b) (* a b))))
-                   (.cproc.dumb 9 8))";
+        let expr2 = "(let ((cproc-dumb (lambda (a b) (* a b))))
+                   (cproc-dumb 9 8))";
 
-        let expr3 = "(.cproc.dumb 9 8 123)";
-        let expr4 = "(.cproc.dumb 9)";
+        let expr3 = "(cproc-dumb 9 8 123)";
+        let expr4 = "(cproc-dumb 9)";
 
         let res = s.num(89);
         let error = s.get_cont_error();