diff --git a/core/namespaces/namespaces.factor b/core/namespaces/namespaces.factor
index ddfe464f8d..80be60c30b 100644
--- a/core/namespaces/namespaces.factor
+++ b/core/namespaces/namespaces.factor
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ PRIVATE>
 : inc ( variable -- ) 1 swap +@ ; inline
 : dec ( variable -- ) -1 swap +@ ; inline
 : with-variables ( ns quot -- ) swap >n call ndrop ; inline
-: counter ( variable -- n ) [ 0 or 1 + dup ] change-global ;
+: counter ( variable -- n ) [ 0 or 1 + dup ] change-global ; inline
 : make-assoc ( quot exemplar -- hash ) 20 swap new-assoc [ swap with-variables ] keep ; inline
 : with-scope ( quot -- ) 5 <hashtable> swap with-variables ; inline
 : with-variable ( value key quot -- ) [ associate ] dip with-variables ; inline