Running variable commands from psql

Is there a way to pass a psql variable into a \! command in psql, e.g.:

test=> \set x ls
test=> \! :x
:x: not found

I specifically want the currently connected database name to be passed
to a \! command.

--
Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> http://momjian.us
EnterpriseDB http://enterprisedb.com

+ It's impossible for everything to be true. +