This test currently fails. This problem was reported by Paul Patience, with a repro test case. The issue is that when compile-file is processing a (defpackage x ...) form, and the package x already exists, it fails to recognize the form as a package-manipulating form, and therefore fails to introduce a "fence" in the output so that subsequent material is placed into a new top-level object. The compiled image fo the (defun foo:fun ()) form in program.tl causes an error: the foo package does not exist. This is because the symbol foo:fun is being read as part of the same object which holds the compiled image of the defpackage form which defines the package. It's essentially the same problem as this (let () (defpackage :foo) foo:bar) The (defpackage ...) cannot execute until the entire form is read, but that form contains foo:bar which requires the foo package to exist. * tests/019/compile-package.tl: New file. * tests/019/data/program.tl: Likewise.