diff --git a/pcl/dlisp2.lisp b/pcl/dlisp2.lisp
index 3d0fc48f12ff505c4d81eda9af747acabebcdd73..5b6d3a5b58f303e0bb6b0077fb99dbcb3d6aa01f 100644
--- a/pcl/dlisp2.lisp
+++ b/pcl/dlisp2.lisp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 
 ;;; Note this list is setup in dlisp3.lisp when all the necessary
 ;;; macros have been loaded.
-(defvar checking-or-caching-function-list)
+(defvar checking-or-caching-function-list nil)
 
 (defmacro emit-checking-or-caching-function-precompiled ()
   `(cdr (assoc (list cached-emf-p return-value-p metatypes applyp)