diff --git a/src/library/unifier.cpp b/src/library/unifier.cpp
index fb93a9f5a..89c6f4743 100644
--- a/src/library/unifier.cpp
+++ b/src/library/unifier.cpp
@@ -993,14 +993,16 @@ struct unifier_fn {
        We say a unification problem (?m a_1 ... a_k) =?= rhs uses "simple projections" IF
        rhs is NOT an application.
 
+       If (rhs and a_i are *not* local constants) OR (rhs is a local constant and a_i is a metavariable application),
+       then we add the constraints
+                a_i =?= rhs
+                ?m  =?= fun x_1 ... x_k, x_i
+       to alts as a possible solution.
+
        If rhs is a local constant and a_i == rhs, then we add the constraint
                 ?m =?= fun x_1 ... x_k, x_i
-       to alts as a possible solution when a_i is the same local constant.
+       to alts as a possible solution when a_i is the same local constant or a metavariable application
 
-       If rhs is not a local constant, then for each a_i that is NOT a local constant, we add the constraints
-                ?m  =?= fun x_1 ... x_k, x_i
-                a_i =?= rhs
-       to alts as a possible solution when a_i is the same local constant.
     */
     void add_simple_projections(expr const & m, buffer<expr> const & margs, expr const & rhs, justification const & j,
                                 buffer<constraints> & alts) {
@@ -1013,7 +1015,7 @@ struct unifier_fn {
             unsigned vidx = margs.size() - i;
             --i;
             expr const & marg = margs[i];
-            if (!is_local(marg) && !is_local(rhs)) {
+            if ((!is_local(marg) && !is_local(rhs)) || (is_meta(marg) && is_local(rhs))) {
                 // if rhs is not local, then we only add projections for the nonlocal arguments of lhs
                 constraint c1 = mk_eq_cnstr(marg, rhs, j);
                 constraint c2 = mk_eq_cnstr(m, mk_lambda_for(mtype, mk_var(vidx)), j);
diff --git a/tests/lean/run/tactic17.lean b/tests/lean/run/tactic17.lean
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a34a03069
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/run/tactic17.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import standard
+using tactic
+
+variable A : Type.{1}
+variable f : A → A → A
+
+theorem tst {a b c : A} (H1 : a = b) (H2 : b = c) : f a b = f b c
+:= by apply (@congr A A (f a) (f b));
+      apply (congr2 f);
+      !assumption
+
+
diff --git a/tests/lean/run/tactic18.lean b/tests/lean/run/tactic18.lean
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..64587d868
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/run/tactic18.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import standard
+using tactic
+
+variable A : Type.{1}
+variable f : A → A → A
+
+theorem tst {a b c : A} (H1 : a = b) (H2 : b = c) : f a b = f b c
+:= by apply (@congr A A);
+      apply (subst H2);
+      apply refl;
+      assumption
+
diff --git a/tests/lean/run/tactic19.lean b/tests/lean/run/tactic19.lean
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..27ac93d44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/run/tactic19.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import standard
+using tactic
+
+theorem tst {A : Type} {f : A → A → A} {a b c : A} (H1 : a = b) (H2 : b = c) : f a b = f b c
+:= by apply congr;
+      apply (subst H2);
+      apply refl;
+      assumption
+