diff --git a/lisp/loadup.el b/lisp/loadup.el
index 09c73378da6..2fe4330c9ec 100644
--- a/lisp/loadup.el
+++ b/lisp/loadup.el
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@
       (load "ls-lisp")
       (load "disp-table") ; needed to setup ibm-pc char set, see internal.el
       (load "dos-w32")
+      (load "w32-vars")
       (load "w32-fns")))
 (if (eq system-type 'ms-dos)
     (progn