diff --git a/include/mes/symbols.h b/include/mes/symbols.h
index 08b9f6c7..5bbe75cb 100644
--- a/include/mes/symbols.h
+++ b/include/mes/symbols.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ struct scm *cell_vm_begin_expand_eval;
 struct scm *cell_vm_begin_expand_macro;
 struct scm *cell_vm_begin_expand_primitive_load;
 struct scm *cell_vm_begin_primitive_load;
+struct scm *cell_vm_primitive_load_return;
 struct scm *cell_vm_begin_read_input_file;
 struct scm *cell_vm_call_with_current_continuation2;
 struct scm *cell_vm_call_with_values2;
@@ -136,8 +137,8 @@ struct scm *cell_type_broken_heart;
 struct scm *cell_symbol_program;
 struct scm *cell_symbol_test;
 
-// CONSTANT SYMBOL_MAX 113
-#define SYMBOL_MAX 113
+// CONSTANT SYMBOL_MAX 114
+#define SYMBOL_MAX 114
 
 // CONSTANT CELL_UNSPECIFIED 7
 #define CELL_UNSPECIFIED 7
diff --git a/mes/module/mes/boot-03.scm b/mes/module/mes/boot-03.scm
index e2c7ce53..ca1887c3 100644
--- a/mes/module/mes/boot-03.scm
+++ b/mes/module/mes/boot-03.scm
@@ -168,4 +168,3 @@
 ;; end boot-03.scm
 
 (primitive-load 0)
-(primitive-load 0)
diff --git a/src/eval-apply.c b/src/eval-apply.c
index aa613150..5940ae88 100644
--- a/src/eval-apply.c
+++ b/src/eval-apply.c
@@ -389,6 +389,8 @@ eval_apply:
     goto macro_expand_define_macro;
   else if (R3 == cell_vm_begin_primitive_load)
     goto begin_primitive_load;
+  else if (R3 == cell_vm_primitive_load_return)
+    goto primitive_load_return;
 
   else if (R3 == cell_vm_evlis)
     goto evlis;
@@ -875,11 +877,13 @@ begin_expand:
                   assert_msg (0, "begin-expand-boom 0");
                 }
 
-              push_cc (input, R2, R0, cell_vm_return);
+              if (global_p == 1)
+                push_cc (input, R2, R0, cell_vm_return);
+              else
+                push_cc (input, R2, R0, cell_vm_primitive_load_return);
               x = read_input_file_env (R0);
               if (g_debug > 5)
                 hash_table_printer (R0);
-              gc_pop_frame ();
               input = R1;
               R1 = x;
               set_current_input_port (input);
@@ -958,6 +962,10 @@ call_with_values2:
   R1 = cons (R2->cdr->car, R1);
   goto apply;
 
+primitive_load_return:
+  gc_pop_frame ();
+  /* fall through */
+
 vm_return:
   x = R1;
   gc_pop_frame ();
diff --git a/src/symbol.c b/src/symbol.c
index 488b2a7a..78be0271 100644
--- a/src/symbol.c
+++ b/src/symbol.c
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ init_symbols_ ()                  /*:((internal)) */
   cell_vm_begin_expand_macro = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm:begin-expand-macro*");
   cell_vm_begin_expand_primitive_load = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm:core:begin-expand-primitive-load*");
   cell_vm_begin_primitive_load = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm:core:begin-primitive-load*");
+  cell_vm_primitive_load_return = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm:core:primitive-load-return*");
   cell_vm_begin_read_input_file = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm-begin-read-input-file*");
   cell_vm_call_with_current_continuation2 = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm-call-with-current-continuation2*");
   cell_vm_call_with_values2 = init_symbol (g_symbol, TSPECIAL, "*vm-call-with-values2*");