diff --git a/pkgs/compiler-lib/compiler/commands/exe.rkt b/pkgs/compiler-lib/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
index 3611cf4eae..54e73a2c45 100644
--- a/pkgs/compiler-lib/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/compiler-lib/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@
      #:mred? (gui)
      #:variant (variant)
      #:verbose? (very-verbose)
+     #:expand-namespace (make-base-namespace)
      #:modules (cons `(,main-prefix (file ,source-file) (main configure-runtime))
                      (append
                       (exe-embedded-modules)