diff --git a/Changes b/Changes
index a129fd136..659bca130 100644
--- a/Changes
+++ b/Changes
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ The contributors that suggested a given feature are shown in []. Thanks!
 
 ***   Support trig functions ($sin() etc), bug1281. [Patrick Stewart]
 
+***   Support calling system functions as tasks, bug1285. [Joel Holdsworth]
+
 ****  Fix GCC 8.0 issues, bug1273.
 
 ****  Fix pullup/pulldowns on bit selects, bug1274. [Rob Stoddard]
diff --git a/src/V3AstNodes.h b/src/V3AstNodes.h
index be0745701..684bcf783 100644
--- a/src/V3AstNodes.h
+++ b/src/V3AstNodes.h
@@ -2594,6 +2594,26 @@ public:
     void 	lhsp(AstNode* nodep) { setOp3p(nodep); }
 };
 
+class AstSysFuncAsTask : public AstNodeStmt {
+    // Call what is normally a system function (with a return) in a non-return context
+    // Parents: stmtlist
+    // Children: a system function
+public:
+    AstSysFuncAsTask(FileLine* fileline, AstNode* exprsp)
+        : AstNodeStmt (fileline) { addNOp1p(exprsp); }
+    ASTNODE_NODE_FUNCS(SysFuncAsTask)
+    virtual string verilogKwd() const { return ""; }
+    virtual bool isGateOptimizable() const { return true; }
+    virtual bool isPredictOptimizable() const { return true; }
+    virtual bool isPure() const { return true; }
+    virtual bool isOutputter() const { return false; }
+    virtual int instrCount() const { return 0; }
+    virtual V3Hash sameHash() const { return V3Hash(); }
+    virtual bool same(const AstNode* samep) const { return true; }
+    AstNode* lhsp() const { return op1p(); }  // op1 = Expressions to eval
+    void lhsp(AstNode* nodep) { addOp1p(nodep); }  // op1 = Expressions to eval
+};
+
 class AstSysIgnore : public AstNodeStmt {
     // Parents: stmtlist
     // Children: varrefs or exprs
diff --git a/src/V3EmitC.cpp b/src/V3EmitC.cpp
index 8590eeb81..4e2214edd 100644
--- a/src/V3EmitC.cpp
+++ b/src/V3EmitC.cpp
@@ -374,6 +374,11 @@ public:
 	    puts(")); }\n");
 	}
     }
+    virtual void visit(AstSysFuncAsTask* nodep) {
+        if (!nodep->lhsp()->isWide()) puts("(void)");
+        nodep->lhsp()->iterateAndNext(*this);
+        if (!nodep->lhsp()->isWide()) puts(";");
+    }
     virtual void visit(AstSystemT* nodep) {
 	puts("(void)VL_SYSTEM_I");
 	emitIQW(nodep->lhsp());
diff --git a/src/V3EmitV.cpp b/src/V3EmitV.cpp
index 11f4e4650..117eac41d 100644
--- a/src/V3EmitV.cpp
+++ b/src/V3EmitV.cpp
@@ -278,6 +278,10 @@ class EmitVBaseVisitor : public EmitCBaseVisitor {
 	if (nodep->msbp()) { putbs(","); nodep->msbp()->iterateAndNext(*this); }
 	puts(");\n");
     }
+    virtual void visit(AstSysFuncAsTask* nodep) {
+        nodep->lhsp()->iterateAndNext(*this);
+        puts(";\n");
+    }
     virtual void visit(AstSysIgnore* nodep) {
 	putfs(nodep,nodep->verilogKwd());
 	putbs(" (");
diff --git a/src/V3Width.cpp b/src/V3Width.cpp
index 0dd48eaa6..f98eef88a 100644
--- a/src/V3Width.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Width.cpp
@@ -2188,6 +2188,10 @@ private:
 	    nodep->dtypeSetSigned32();  // Spec says integer return
 	}
     }
+    virtual void visit(AstSysFuncAsTask* nodep) {
+        assertAtStatement(nodep);
+        userIterateAndNext(nodep->lhsp(), WidthVP(SELF,BOTH).p());
+    }
     virtual void visit(AstSystemT* nodep) {
 	assertAtStatement(nodep);
 	userIterateAndNext(nodep->lhsp(), WidthVP(SELF,BOTH).p());
diff --git a/src/verilog.y b/src/verilog.y
index a45928dca..140ba1502 100644
--- a/src/verilog.y
+++ b/src/verilog.y
@@ -2663,6 +2663,8 @@ system_t_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as task)
 	|	yaD_DPI '(' exprList ')'		{ $$ = new AstTaskRef($2,*$1,$3); GRAMMARP->argWrapList($$->castTaskRef()); }
 	//
 	|	yD_C '(' cStrList ')'			{ $$ = (v3Global.opt.ignc() ? NULL : new AstUCStmt($1,$3)); }
+	|	yD_SYSTEM  '(' expr ')'				{ $$ = new AstSystemT($1,$3); }
+	//
 	|	yD_FCLOSE '(' idClassSel ')'		{ $$ = new AstFClose($1, $3); }
 	|	yD_FFLUSH parenE			{ $1->v3error("Unsupported: $fflush of all handles does not map to C++."); }
 	|	yD_FFLUSH '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstFFlush($1, $3); }
@@ -2673,7 +2675,6 @@ system_t_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as task)
 	//
 	|	yD_SFORMAT '(' expr ',' str commaEListE ')'	{ $$ = new AstSFormat($1,$3,*$5,$6); }
 	|	yD_SWRITE  '(' expr ',' str commaEListE ')'	{ $$ = new AstSFormat($1,$3,*$5,$6); }
-	|	yD_SYSTEM  '(' expr ')'				{ $$ = new AstSystemT($1,$3); }
 	//
 	|	yD_DISPLAY  parenE				{ $$ = new AstDisplay($1,AstDisplayType::DT_DISPLAY,NULL,NULL); }
 	|	yD_DISPLAY  '(' exprList ')'			{ $$ = new AstDisplay($1,AstDisplayType::DT_DISPLAY,NULL,$3); }
@@ -2698,6 +2699,9 @@ system_t_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as task)
 	|	yD_READMEMH '(' expr ',' idClassSel ')'				{ $$ = new AstReadMem($1,true, $3,$5,NULL,NULL); }
 	|	yD_READMEMH '(' expr ',' idClassSel ',' expr ')'		{ $$ = new AstReadMem($1,true, $3,$5,$7,NULL); }
 	|	yD_READMEMH '(' expr ',' idClassSel ',' expr ',' expr ')'	{ $$ = new AstReadMem($1,true, $3,$5,$7,$9); }
+	//
+	// Any system function as a task
+	|	system_f_call_or_t			{ $$ = new AstSysFuncAsTask($<fl>1, $1); }
 	;
 
 system_f_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as func)
@@ -2707,7 +2711,14 @@ system_f_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as func)
 	|	yaD_DPI parenE				{ $$ = new AstFuncRef($<fl>1,*$1,NULL); }
 	|	yaD_DPI '(' exprList ')'		{ $$ = new AstFuncRef($2,*$1,$3); GRAMMARP->argWrapList($$->castFuncRef()); }
 	//
-	|	yD_ACOS '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstAcosD($1,$3); }
+	|	yD_C '(' cStrList ')'			{ $$ = (v3Global.opt.ignc() ? NULL : new AstUCFunc($1,$3)); }
+	|	yD_SYSTEM  '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstSystemF($1,$3); }
+	//
+	|	system_f_call_or_t			{ $$ = $1; }
+	;
+
+system_f_call_or_t<nodep>:	// IEEE: part of system_tf_call (can be task or func)
+		yD_ACOS '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstAcosD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_ACOSH '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstAcoshD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_ASIN '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstAsinD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_ASINH '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstAsinhD($1,$3); }
@@ -2717,7 +2728,6 @@ system_f_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as func)
 	|	yD_BITS '(' exprOrDataType ')'		{ $$ = new AstAttrOf($1,AstAttrType::DIM_BITS,$3); }
 	|	yD_BITS '(' exprOrDataType ',' expr ')'	{ $$ = new AstAttrOf($1,AstAttrType::DIM_BITS,$3,$5); }
 	|	yD_BITSTOREAL '(' expr ')'		{ $$ = new AstBitsToRealD($1,$3); }
-	|	yD_C '(' cStrList ')'			{ $$ = (v3Global.opt.ignc() ? NULL : new AstUCFunc($1,$3)); }
 	|	yD_CEIL '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstCeilD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_CLOG2 '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstCLog2($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_COS '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstCosD($1,$3); }
@@ -2762,7 +2772,6 @@ system_f_call<nodep>:		// IEEE: system_tf_call (as func)
 	|	yD_SQRT '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstSqrtD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_SSCANF '(' expr ',' str commaVRDListE ')'	{ $$ = new AstSScanF($1,*$5,$3,$6); }
 	|	yD_STIME parenE				{ $$ = new AstSel($1,new AstTime($1),0,32); }
-	|	yD_SYSTEM  '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstSystemF($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_TAN '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstTanD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_TANH '(' expr ')'			{ $$ = new AstTanhD($1,$3); }
 	|	yD_TESTPLUSARGS '(' str ')'		{ $$ = new AstTestPlusArgs($1,*$3); }
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_sys_plusargs.v b/test_regress/t/t_sys_plusargs.v
index f0956f3fb..8de3437ae 100644
--- a/test_regress/t/t_sys_plusargs.v
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_sys_plusargs.v
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ module t;
       $display("str='%s'",sv_str);
       if (sv_str != "T=1234") $stop;
 
+      sv_str = "none";
+      $value$plusargs("IN%s", sv_str);
+      $display("str='%s'",sv_str);
+      if (sv_str != "T=1234") $stop;
+
       p_in = "IN%s";
 `ifdef VERILATOR
       p_in = $c(p_in); // Prevent constant propagation