diff --git a/src/c/nucl.c b/src/c/nucl.c
index c48069e46..0d47d347b 100644
--- a/src/c/nucl.c
+++ b/src/c/nucl.c
@@ -818,6 +818,12 @@ nucl_append_dictionary(cl_object symbol, cl_object value)
   return symbol;
 }
 
+static cl_object
+nucl_compile_definition(void)
+{
+  return nucl_stack_to_list();
+}
+
 cl_object nucl_word_def(int narg, cl_object op) {
   cl_env_ptr the_env = ecl_core.first_env;
   cl_object cmpp = ECL_SYM_VAL(the_env, nucl_cmpp);
@@ -830,7 +836,7 @@ cl_object nucl_word_def(int narg, cl_object op) {
     ECL_SETQ(the_env, nucl_cmpp, ECL_NIL);
     (cmpp == ECL_T)
       ? nucl_write_cstr("$$$ error: empty definition")
-      : nucl_append_dictionary(cmpp, nucl_stack_to_list());
+      : nucl_append_dictionary(cmpp, nucl_compile_definition());
     close_nucl_frame();
   } else if (!nucl_cstrcmp(op->symbol.name, ":", 1)) {
     nucl_write_cstr("$$$ error: nested compilation");