diff --git a/src/cmp/cmpglobals.lsp b/src/cmp/cmpglobals.lsp
index d66ba333b..e4ab12f33 100644
--- a/src/cmp/cmpglobals.lsp
+++ b/src/cmp/cmpglobals.lsp
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ each form it processes. The default value is NIL.")
   "This variable controls whether the compiler should display messages about its
 progress. The default value is T.")
 
-(defvar *compiler-features* #+ecl-min nil #-ecl-min '#.*compiler-features*
+(defvar *compiler-features*
+  '#.(if (not (boundp '*compiler-features*)) nil *compiler-features*)
   "This alternative list of features contains keywords that were gathered from
 running the compiler. It may be updated by running ")