diff --git a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
index 6b85eb63e8..f3f233ea0b 100755
--- a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ crossref off
 "syntax" vocab vocab-words bootstrap-syntax set
 H{ } clone dictionary set
 H{ } clone changed-words set
-[ default-recompile-hook ] recompile-hook set
+
+! Trivial recompile hook. We don't want to touch the code heap
+! during stage1 bootstrap, it would just waste time.
+[ drop { } ] recompile-hook set
 
 call
 call