diff --git a/core/vocabs/loader/loader.factor b/core/vocabs/loader/loader.factor
index e69a6a20c8..135e0ef6ef 100644
--- a/core/vocabs/loader/loader.factor
+++ b/core/vocabs/loader/loader.factor
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ M: string vocab-path ( string -- path/f )
 PRIVATE>
 
 : vocab-dir ( vocab -- dir )
-    vocab-name H{ { CHAR: . CHAR: / } } substitute ;
+    vocab-name* H{ { CHAR: . CHAR: / } } substitute ;
 
 : append-vocab-dir ( vocab str/f -- path )
     [ vocab-name "." split ] dip