diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
index 13eb6df4e4..8b5b8a5e75 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 (require racket/class
          racket/draw
          racket/list
+         racket/set
          compiler/cm
          setup/dirs
          planet/config
@@ -55,7 +56,9 @@
   #;(namespace-attach-module orig-namespace ''#%foreign))
   
 
-(define (set-module-language-parameters settings module-language-parallel-lock-client
+(define (set-module-language-parameters settings 
+                                        module-language-parallel-lock-client
+                                        currently-open-files
                                         #:use-use-current-security-guard? [use-current-security-guard? #f])
   (current-command-line-arguments (prefab-module-settings-command-line-args settings))
   (let* ([default (current-library-collection-paths)]
@@ -68,6 +71,16 @@
   (compile-context-preservation-enabled (prefab-module-settings-full-trace? settings))
   
   (when (prefab-module-settings-compilation-on? settings)
+    (define open-pkgs
+      (for/fold ([s (set)]) ([path (in-list currently-open-files)])
+        (define pkg (path->pkg path))
+        (if (and pkg
+                 (memq 'write
+                       (file-or-directory-permissions (pkg-directory pkg))))
+            (set-add s pkg)
+            s)))
+    (for ([pkg (in-set open-pkgs)])
+      (log-info "DrRacket: enabling bytecode-file compilation for package ~s" pkg))
     (define skip-path?
       (let* ([cd (find-collects-dir)]
              [no-dirs (if cd 
@@ -76,6 +89,7 @@
         (λ (p) (or (file-stamp-in-paths p no-dirs)
                    (let ([pkg (path->pkg p)])
                      (and pkg
+                          (not (set-member? open-pkgs pkg))
                           (file-stamp-in-paths p (list (pkg-directory pkg)))))))))
     (define extra-compiled-file-path
       (case (prefab-module-settings-annotations settings)
diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
index 527d10228e..dd8ffb4962 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
            (define response-pc (vector-ref message 2))
            (define settings (vector-ref message 3))
            (define pc-status-expanding-place (vector-ref message 4))
+           (define currently-open-files (vector-ref message 5))
            (loop (new-job program-as-string path response-pc settings pc-status-expanding-place)
                  old-registry)]))))))
 
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 03 setting module language parameters")
          (set-module-language-parameters settings
                                          module-language-parallel-lock-client
+                                         null
                                          #:use-use-current-security-guard? #t)
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 04 setting directories")
          (let ([init-dir (get-init-dir path)])
diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
index 3db6a29440..108f8e1e0a 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
@@ -331,10 +331,12 @@
         (set! language-info #f)
         (set! sandbox #f)
         
-        (run-in-user-thread
-         (λ ()
-           (set-module-language-parameters (module-language-settings->prefab-module-settings settings)
-                                           module-language-parallel-lock-client))))
+        (let ([currently-open-files (get-currently-open-files)])
+          (run-in-user-thread
+           (λ ()
+              (set-module-language-parameters (module-language-settings->prefab-module-settings settings)
+                                              module-language-parallel-lock-client
+                                              currently-open-files)))))
       
       (define/override (get-one-line-summary)
         (string-constant module-language-one-line-summary))
@@ -1931,7 +1933,8 @@
                         filename/loc
                         (module-language-settings->prefab-module-settings settings)
                         (λ (res) (oc-finished res))
-                        (λ (a b) (oc-status-message a b)))]
+                        (λ (a b) (oc-status-message a b))
+                        (get-currently-open-files))]
         [else
          (line-of-interest)
          (send dirty/pending-tab set-oc-status
@@ -2009,7 +2012,8 @@
                          filename 
                          prefab-module-settings 
                          show-results 
-                         tell-the-tab-show-bkg-running)
+                         tell-the-tab-show-bkg-running
+                         currently-open-files)
     (unless expanding-place
       (set! expanding-place (dynamic-place expanding-place.rkt 'start))
       (place-channel-put expanding-place module-language-compile-lock)
@@ -2028,7 +2032,8 @@
                                    filename
                                    pc-in 
                                    prefab-module-settings
-                                   pc-status-expanding-place))
+                                   pc-status-expanding-place
+                                   currently-open-files))
                (place-channel-put expanding-place to-send)
                (define us (current-thread))
                (thread (λ () 
@@ -2340,4 +2345,13 @@
        (connect-to-prefs other-choice 'drracket:online-expansion:other-errors)
        (for ([f (in-list (drracket:module-language-tools:get-online-expansion-pref-funcs))])
          (f vp))
-       parent-vp))))
+       parent-vp)))
+  
+  (define (get-currently-open-files)
+    (for*/list ([frame (in-list
+                        (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))]
+                #:when (frame . is-a? . drracket:unit:frame%)
+                [tab (in-list (send frame get-tabs))]
+                [v (in-value (send (send tab get-defs) get-filename))]
+                #:when v)
+      v)))
diff --git a/collects/tests/drracket/populate-compiled.rkt b/collects/tests/drracket/populate-compiled.rkt
index f2048afacf..1d04a20e4a 100644
--- a/collects/tests/drracket/populate-compiled.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/drracket/populate-compiled.rkt
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
            racket/gui/base
            racket/class
            racket/path
-           racket/file)
+           racket/file
+           framework/test)
 
   (define (check-compiled compiled? path)
     (unless (equal? compiled? (file-exists? path))
@@ -88,10 +89,12 @@
 
         (define popcomp-main-zo
           (build-path dir "popcomp-pkg" "popcomp" "compiled" "drracket" "errortrace" "main_rkt.zo"))
+        (define popcomp2-main-zo
+          (build-path dir "popcomp2-pkg" "popcomp2" "compiled" "drracket" "errortrace" "main_rkt.zo"))
 
         (check-compiled #t (build-path dir "compiled" "drracket" "errortrace" "y_rkt.zo"))
         (check-compiled #f popcomp-main-zo)
-        (check-compiled #f (build-path dir "popcomp2-pkg" "popcomp2" "compiled" "drracket" "errortrace" "main_rkt.zo"))
+        (check-compiled #f popcomp2-main-zo)
 
         ;; Create a broken ".zo" file where it should not be used:
         (make-directory* (path-only popcomp-main-zo))
@@ -103,4 +106,34 @@
         (do-execute drs)
         (let* ([got (fetch-output drs)])
           (unless (string=? "" got)
-            (error 'check-output "wrong output: ~s" got)))))))
+            (error 'check-output "wrong output: ~s" got)))
+
+        (delete-file popcomp-main-zo)
+
+        ;; Open "main.rkt" in "popcomp-pkg", so now it should be compiled
+        ;; when we run "x.rkt":
+
+        (test:menu-select "File" "New Tab")
+        (use-get/put-dialog (λ () 
+                               (test:menu-select "File" "Open..."))
+                            (build-path dir "popcomp-pkg" "popcomp" "main.rkt"))
+
+        (queue-callback/res (λ () (send drs change-to-tab (car (send drs get-tabs)))))
+
+        (do-execute drs)
+
+        (check-compiled #t popcomp-main-zo)
+        (check-compiled #f popcomp2-main-zo)
+
+        ;; But if the "popcomp-pkg" directory is not writable, then
+        ;; don't compile after all:
+
+        (delete-file popcomp-main-zo)
+        (file-or-directory-permissions (build-path dir "popcomp-pkg") #o555)
+        
+        (do-execute drs)
+
+        (check-compiled #f popcomp-main-zo)
+        (check-compiled #f popcomp2-main-zo)
+
+        (file-or-directory-permissions (build-path dir "popcomp-pkg") #o777)))))