diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b08deae9..b74e7837 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# v1.9.2-alpha0
+
+* Add direct call for `ti_do_root_chain` _(small performance upgrade)_, pr #453.
+
 # v1.9.1
 
 * Skip `ti_do_expression` where possible for performance increase, pr #452.
diff --git a/inc/ti/do.h b/inc/ti/do.h
index cfed6005..e57eaa76 100644
--- a/inc/ti/do.h
+++ b/inc/ti/do.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ int ti_do_enum_get(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_thing(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_array(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_paranthesis(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
+int ti_do_root_chain(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_operation(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_bit_sl(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
 int ti_do_bit_sr(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e);
diff --git a/inc/ti/version.h b/inc/ti/version.h
index 5f7edf95..bc7c34be 100644
--- a/inc/ti/version.h
+++ b/inc/ti/version.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 #define TI_VERSION_MAJOR 1
 #define TI_VERSION_MINOR 9
-#define TI_VERSION_PATCH 1
+#define TI_VERSION_PATCH 2
 
 /* The syntax version is used to test compatibility with functions
  * using the `ti_nodes_check_syntax()` function */
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
  *  "-rc0"
  *  ""
  */
-#define TI_VERSION_PRE_RELEASE ""
+#define TI_VERSION_PRE_RELEASE "-alpha0"
 
 #define TI_MAINTAINER \
     "Jeroen van der Heijden <jeroen@cesbit.com>"
diff --git a/src/ti/do.c b/src/ti/do.c
index 7a880a78..c6a68692 100644
--- a/src/ti/do.c
+++ b/src/ti/do.c
@@ -2066,6 +2066,24 @@ int ti_do_paranthesis(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e)
     return ti_do_statement(query, nd->children->next->children->next, e);
 }
 
+int ti_do_root_chain(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e)
+{
+    if (!query->collection)
+    {
+        ex_set(e, EX_LOOKUP_ERROR,
+                "the `root` of the `%s` scope is inaccessible; "
+                "you might want to query a `@collection` scope?",
+                ti_query_scope_name(query));
+        return e->nr;
+    }
+
+    /* Set the collection at the current value */
+    query->rval = (ti_val_t *) query->collection->root;
+    ti_incref(query->rval);
+
+    return do__chain(query, nd->children->next, e);
+}
+
 int ti_do_expression(ti_query_t * query, cleri_node_t * nd, ex_t * e)
 {
     int preopr = (int) ((intptr_t) nd->children->data);
diff --git a/src/ti/qbind.c b/src/ti/qbind.c
index 38845c2d..f3697a19 100644
--- a/src/ti/qbind.c
+++ b/src/ti/qbind.c
@@ -1354,6 +1354,9 @@ static inline void qbind__expression(ti_qbind_t * qbind, cleri_node_t * nd)
          */
         switch (node->next->cl_obj->gid)
         {
+        case CLERI_GID_CHAIN:
+            nd->data = ti_do_root_chain;
+            break;
         case CLERI_GID_T_ANO:
             nd->data = ti_do_ano;
             break;