diff --git a/src/cmp/cmpdefs.lsp b/src/cmp/cmpdefs.lsp
index 13f747cb1..18d7045fb 100644
--- a/src/cmp/cmpdefs.lsp
+++ b/src/cmp/cmpdefs.lsp
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
 ;;; Variables and constants for error handling
 ;;;
 (defvar *current-form* '|compiler preprocess|)
-(defvar *current-toplevel-form* |compiler preprocess|)
+(defvar *current-toplevel-form* '|compiler preprocess|)
 (defvar *current-c2form* nil)
 (defvar *compile-file-position* -1)
 (defvar *first-error* t)