diff --git a/dagrt/codegen/fortran.py b/dagrt/codegen/fortran.py
index 9361a59..3327855 100644
--- a/dagrt/codegen/fortran.py
+++ b/dagrt/codegen/fortran.py
@@ -2407,6 +2407,42 @@ def codegen_builtin_len(results, function, args, arg_kinds,
     code_generator.emit("")
 
 
+class AbsComputer(TypeVisitorWithResult):
+    def visit_BuiltinType(self, fortran_type, fortran_expr_str, index_expr_map):
+        self.code_generator.emit(
+                "{result} = abs({result})"
+                .format(
+                    result=self.result_expr))
+
+
+def codegen_builtin_elementwise_abs(results, function, args, arg_kinds,
+        code_generator):
+    result, = results
+
+    from dagrt.data import Scalar, Array, UserType
+    x_kind = arg_kinds[0]
+    if isinstance(x_kind, Scalar):
+        if x_kind.is_real_valued:
+            ftype = BuiltinType("real*8")
+        else:
+            ftype = BuiltinType("complex*16")
+    elif isinstance(x_kind, UserType):
+        ftype = code_generator.user_type_map[x_kind.identifier]
+    elif isinstance(x_kind, Array):
+        code_generator.emit("{result} = abs({arg})".format(
+            result=result,
+            arg=args[0]))
+        return
+    else:
+        raise TypeError("unsupported kind for elementwise_abs argument: %s" % x_kind)
+
+    code_generator.emit(f"{result} = 0")
+    code_generator.emit("")
+
+    AbsComputer(code_generator, result)(ftype, args[0], {})
+    code_generator.emit("")
+
+
 class IsNaNComputer(TypeVisitorWithResult):
     def visit_BuiltinType(self, fortran_type, fortran_expr_str, index_expr_map):
         self.code_generator.emit(
diff --git a/dagrt/data.py b/dagrt/data.py
index 298a10c..3df73fe 100644
--- a/dagrt/data.py
+++ b/dagrt/data.py
@@ -371,7 +371,12 @@ def map_generic_call(self, function_id, arg_dict, single_return_only=True):
             except UnableToInferKind:
                 arg_kinds[key] = None
 
-        z = func.get_result_kinds(arg_kinds, self.check)
+        try:
+            z = func.get_result_kinds(arg_kinds, self.check)
+        except Exception:
+            raise UnableToInferKind(
+                    "function '%s' needs more info about arguments"
+                    % function_id)
 
         if single_return_only:
             if len(z) != 1:
diff --git a/dagrt/function_registry.py b/dagrt/function_registry.py
index 409fd90..ef1c857 100644
--- a/dagrt/function_registry.py
+++ b/dagrt/function_registry.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 .. autoclass:: Norm1
 .. autoclass:: Norm2
 .. autoclass:: NormInf
+.. autoclass:: ElementwiseAbs
 .. autoclass:: DotProduct
 .. autoclass:: Len
 .. autoclass:: IsNaN
@@ -300,6 +301,32 @@ class NormInf(_NormBase):
     identifier = "<builtin>norm_inf"
 
 
+class ElementwiseAbs(Function):
+    """``elementwise_abs(x)`` takes the elementwise absolute value of *x*.
+    *x* is a user type, array, or scalar.
+    """
+
+    result_names = ("result",)
+    identifier = "<builtin>elementwise_abs"
+    arg_names = ("x")
+    default_dict = {}
+
+    def get_result_kinds(self, arg_kinds, check):
+        x_kind, = self.resolve_args(arg_kinds)
+
+        if check and not isinstance(x_kind, (Scalar, Array, UserType)):
+            raise TypeError("argument 'x' of 'elementwise_abs' is not a user type")
+
+        if isinstance(x_kind, UserType):
+            return (UserType(identifier=x_kind.identifier),)
+        elif isinstance(x_kind, Array):
+            return (Array(is_real_valued=True),)
+        elif isinstance(x_kind, Scalar):
+            return (Scalar(is_real_valued=True),)
+        else:
+            raise TypeError("argument 'x' of 'elementwise_abs' undetermined")
+
+
 class DotProduct(Function):
     """``dot_product(x, y)`` return the dot product of *x* and *y*. The
     complex conjugate of *x* is taken first, if applicable.
@@ -539,6 +566,7 @@ def _make_bfr():
             (Norm1(), "self._builtin_norm_1({args})"),
             (Norm2(), "self._builtin_norm_2({args})"),
             (NormInf(), "self._builtin_norm_inf({args})"),
+            (ElementwiseAbs(), "{numpy}.abs({args})"),
             (DotProduct(), "{numpy}.vdot({args})"),
             (Len(), "{numpy}.size({args})"),
             (IsNaN(), "{numpy}.isnan({args})"),
@@ -561,6 +589,8 @@ def _make_bfr():
 
     bfr = bfr.register_codegen(Norm2.identifier, "fortran",
             f.codegen_builtin_norm_2)
+    bfr = bfr.register_codegen(ElementwiseAbs.identifier, "fortran",
+            f.codegen_builtin_elementwise_abs)
     bfr = bfr.register_codegen(Len.identifier, "fortran",
             f.codegen_builtin_len)
     bfr = bfr.register_codegen(IsNaN.identifier, "fortran",
diff --git a/test/test_codegen_fortran.py b/test/test_codegen_fortran.py
index 420efd3..9d3fd3d 100755
--- a/test/test_codegen_fortran.py
+++ b/test/test_codegen_fortran.py
@@ -150,6 +150,49 @@ def test_self_dep_in_loop():
         fortran_libraries=["lapack", "blas"])
 
 
+def test_elementwise_abs():
+    with CodeBuilder(name="primary") as cb:
+        cb("y", "<func>f(0, <state>ytype)")
+        cb("<state>ytype", "y")
+        # Test new builtin on a usertype.
+        cb("z", "<builtin>elementwise_abs(<state>ytype)")
+        cb("i", "<builtin>array(20)")
+        cb("i[j]", "-j",
+                loops=(("j", 0, 20),))
+        # Test new builtin on an array type.
+        cb("k", "<builtin>elementwise_abs(i)")
+        # Test new builtin on a scalar.
+        cb("l", "<builtin>elementwise_abs(-20)")
+
+    code = create_DAGCode_with_steady_phase(cb.statements)
+
+    rhs_function = "<func>f"
+
+    from dagrt.function_registry import (
+            base_function_registry, register_ode_rhs)
+    freg = register_ode_rhs(base_function_registry, "ytype",
+                            identifier=rhs_function,
+                            input_names=("y",))
+    freg = freg.register_codegen(rhs_function, "fortran",
+            f.CallCode("""
+                ${result} = -2*${y}
+                """))
+
+    codegen = f.CodeGenerator(
+            "element_abs_test",
+            function_registry=freg,
+            user_type_map={"ytype": f.ArrayType((100,), f.BuiltinType("real*8"))},
+            timing_function="second")
+
+    code_str = codegen(code)
+
+    run_fortran([
+        ("element_abs.f90", code_str),
+        ("test_element_abs.f90", read_file("test_element_abs.f90")),
+        ],
+        fortran_libraries=["lapack", "blas"])
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     if len(sys.argv) > 1:
         exec(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/test/test_element_abs.f90 b/test/test_element_abs.f90
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5129a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_element_abs.f90
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+program test_element_abs
+
+  use element_abs_test, only: dagrt_state_type, &
+    timestep_initialize => initialize, &
+    timestep_run => run, &
+    timestep_shutdown => shutdown
+
+  implicit none
+
+  type(dagrt_state_type), target :: dagrt_state
+  type(dagrt_state_type), pointer :: dagrt_state_ptr
+
+  real*8, dimension(100) :: y0
+
+  integer i
+
+  ! start code ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  dagrt_state_ptr => dagrt_state
+
+
+  do i = 1, 100
+    y0 = i
+  end do
+
+  call timestep_initialize(dagrt_state=dagrt_state_ptr, state_ytype=y0)
+  call timestep_run(dagrt_state=dagrt_state_ptr)
+  call timestep_shutdown(dagrt_state=dagrt_state_ptr)
+
+end program
+