diff --git a/core/bootstrap/image/image.factor b/core/bootstrap/image/image.factor
index 1ff04bacc2..aa7377adbf 100755
--- a/core/bootstrap/image/image.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/image/image.factor
@@ -482,8 +482,6 @@ PRIVATE>
 : make-image ( arch -- )
     [
         architecture set
-        bootstrapping? on
-        load-help? off
         "resource:/core/bootstrap/stage1.factor" run-file
         build-image
         write-image
diff --git a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
index 3ce783d620..31ba4e4b6d 100755
--- a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ call
 ! After we execute bootstrap/layouts
 num-types get f <array> builtins set
 
+bootstrapping? on
+
 ! Create some empty vocabs where the below primitives and
 ! classes will go
 {
diff --git a/core/bootstrap/stage1.factor b/core/bootstrap/stage1.factor
index f99c8eb82f..64402ca2e1 100755
--- a/core/bootstrap/stage1.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/stage1.factor
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ vocabs.loader system debugger continuations ;
 
 "resource:core/bootstrap/primitives.factor" run-file
 
+load-help? off
+
 ! Create a boot quotation for the target
 [
     [