diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
index 0c18160787..eddb83bddd 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/core_commands/help.rs
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ fn help(
 
                 cols.push("is_custom".into());
                 vals.push(Value::Bool {
-                    val: decl.get_block_id().is_some(),
+                    val: decl.is_custom_command(),
                     span: head,
                 });
 
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ fn help(
 
                 cols.push("is_custom".into());
                 vals.push(Value::Bool {
-                    val: decl.get_block_id().is_some(),
+                    val: decl.is_custom_command(),
                     span: head,
                 });
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/system/which_.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/system/which_.rs
index fe09f8bf5e..baddb0f8b9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/system/which_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/system/which_.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ fn get_entry_in_aliases(engine_state: &EngineState, name: &str, span: Span) -> O
 
 fn get_entry_in_commands(engine_state: &EngineState, name: &str, span: Span) -> Option<Value> {
     if let Some(decl_id) = engine_state.find_decl(name.as_bytes(), &[]) {
-        let (msg, is_builtin) = if engine_state.get_decl(decl_id).get_block_id().is_some() {
+        let (msg, is_builtin) = if engine_state.get_decl(decl_id).is_custom_command() {
             ("Nushell custom command", false)
         } else {
             ("Nushell built-in command", true)
diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
index 81971b44c4..51da07a1e0 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/eval.rs
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ pub fn create_scope(
             cols.push("is_builtin".to_string());
             // we can only be a is_builtin or is_custom, not both
             vals.push(Value::Bool {
-                val: decl.get_block_id().is_none(),
+                val: !decl.is_custom_command(),
                 span,
             });
 
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ pub fn create_scope(
 
             cols.push("is_custom".to_string());
             vals.push(Value::Bool {
-                val: decl.get_block_id().is_some(),
+                val: decl.is_custom_command(),
                 span,
             });
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/known_external.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/known_external.rs
index 70ac93f82a..ea40daf4f5 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/known_external.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/known_external.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ impl Command for KnownExternal {
         true
     }
 
+    fn is_builtin(&self) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
+
     fn run(
         &self,
         engine_state: &EngineState,
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/command.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/command.rs
index 56f4fad5f2..7d9d0242e6 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/command.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/engine/command.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,16 @@ pub trait Command: Send + Sync + CommandClone {
         false
     }
 
+    // This is an enhanced method to determine if a command is custom command or not
+    // since extern "foo" [] and def "foo" [] behaves differently
+    fn is_custom_command(&self) -> bool {
+        if self.get_block_id().is_some() {
+            true
+        } else {
+            self.is_known_external()
+        }
+    }
+
     // Is a sub command
     fn is_sub(&self) -> bool {
         self.name().contains(' ')