diff --git a/src/eval-apply.c b/src/eval-apply.c
index d8794182..e172d852 100644
--- a/src/eval-apply.c
+++ b/src/eval-apply.c
@@ -802,6 +802,8 @@ begin:
             {
               program = cons (R1->car, cell_nil);
               push_cc (program, R1, R0, cell_vm_begin_primitive_load);
+              /* Force toplevel by moving any *closure* down.  */
+              R0 = cons (cell_undefined, R0);
               goto begin_expand;
             begin_primitive_load:
               R2->car = R1;