diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
index 916299b60c..388978afe2 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/expanding-place.rkt
@@ -97,6 +97,24 @@
          (define sema (make-semaphore 0))
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 02 setting basic parameters")
          (set-basic-parameters/no-gui)
+         
+         (define loaded-paths '())
+         (define original-path (make-parameter #f))
+         (current-load/use-compiled
+          (let ([ol (current-load/use-compiled)])
+            (λ (path mod-name)
+              (parameterize ([original-path path])
+                (ol path mod-name)))))
+         (current-load
+          (let ([cl (current-load)])
+            (λ (path mod-name)
+              (set! loaded-paths
+                    (cons (or (current-module-declare-source)
+                              (original-path)
+                              path)
+                          loaded-paths))
+              (cl path mod-name))))
+         
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 03 setting module language parameters")
          (set-module-language-parameters settings
                                          module-language-parallel-lock-client
@@ -110,7 +128,6 @@
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 05 installing security guard")
          (install-security-guard) ;; must come after the call to set-module-language-parameters
          (ep-log-info "expanding-place.rkt: 06 setting uncaught-exception-handler")
-         (define loaded-paths '())
          (uncaught-exception-handler
           (λ (exn)
             (parameterize ([current-custodian orig-cust])
@@ -143,24 +160,9 @@
          (define io-sema (make-semaphore 0))
          (when log-io?
            (thread (λ () (catch-and-log in io-sema))))
-         (define original-path (make-parameter #f))
          (define expanded 
            (parameterize ([current-output-port out]
-                          [current-error-port out]
-                          [current-load/use-compiled
-                           (let ([ol (current-load/use-compiled)])
-                             (λ (path mod-name)
-                               (parameterize ([original-path path])
-                                 (ol path mod-name))))]
-                          [current-load
-                           (let ([cl (current-load)])
-                             (λ (path mod-name)
-                               (set! loaded-paths
-                                     (cons (or (current-module-declare-source)
-                                               (original-path)
-                                               path)
-                                           loaded-paths))
-                               (cl path mod-name)))])
+                          [current-error-port out])
              (expand transformed-stx)))
          (when log-io?
            (close-output-port out)
diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/local-member-names.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/local-member-names.rkt
index e9c883ad9e..1e08c403a2 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/local-member-names.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/local-member-names.rkt
@@ -29,3 +29,23 @@
 ;; online check syntax has finished
 (define-local-member-name
   get-online-expansion-colors)
+
+
+
+;; used by the module language  
+(define-local-member-name
+  frame-show-bkg-running
+  set-expand-error/status
+  update-frame-expand-error
+  expand-error-next
+  expand-error-prev
+  hide-module-language-error-panel
+  fetch-data-to-send
+  clear-old-error
+  set-bottom-bar-status
+  
+  get-oc-status
+  set-oc-status
+  
+  set-dep-paths
+  set-dirty-if-dep)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
index ca762d826a..d9cab2e77c 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
@@ -27,6 +27,23 @@
          "rectangle-intersect.rkt"
          framework/private/logging-timer)
 
+;; submodule to make these accessible to the test suite
+(module oc-status-structs racket/base
+  ;; the online compilation state for individual tabs
+  ;; oc-state is either:
+  ;;   (clean symbol? string? (listof (vector number? number?)))
+  ;;   (dirty boolean?)
+  ;;   (running symbol? string?)
+  (struct clean (error-type error-message error-locs) #:transparent)
+  (struct dirty (timer-pending?) #:transparent)
+  (struct running (sym str) #:transparent)
+  
+  (provide (struct-out clean)
+           (struct-out dirty)
+           (struct-out running)))
+
+(require (submod "." oc-status-structs))
+
 #|
 ;; this code tracks which lines have been executed 
 ;; for use while (manually) testing the oc state machine
@@ -883,23 +900,6 @@
                              filename))))))]
         [else #f])))
   
-  (define-local-member-name
-    frame-show-bkg-running
-    set-expand-error/status
-    update-frame-expand-error
-    expand-error-next
-    expand-error-prev
-    hide-module-language-error-panel
-    fetch-data-to-send
-    clear-old-error
-    set-bottom-bar-status
-    
-    get-oc-status
-    set-oc-status
-    
-    set-dep-paths
-    set-dirty-if-dep)
-  
   (define online-expansion-logger (make-logger 'online-expansion-state-machine (current-logger)))
   (define-syntax-rule
     (define/oc-log (id . args) . body)
@@ -1702,15 +1702,6 @@
       (super-new [stretchable-width #f] [stretchable-height #f])))
 
   
-  ;; the online compilation state for individual tabs
-  ;; oc-state is either:
-  ;;   (clean symbol? string? (listof (vector number? number?)))
-  ;;   (dirty boolean?)
-  ;;   (running symbol? string?)
-  (struct clean (error-type error-message error-locs) #:transparent)
-  (struct dirty (timer-pending?) #:transparent)
-  (struct running (sym str) #:transparent)
-  
   ;; get-current-oc-state : -> (or/c tab #f) (or/c tab #f) (listof tab) (listof tab)
   ;; the tabs in the results are only those that are in the module language
   (define (get-current-oc-state)
diff --git a/collects/tests/drracket/online-compilation-zo-creation.rkt b/collects/tests/drracket/online-compilation-zo-creation.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..61d468af4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/tests/drracket/online-compilation-zo-creation.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require "private/drracket-test-util.rkt"
+         racket/file
+         drracket/private/local-member-names
+         racket/class
+         racket/path
+         (submod drracket/private/module-language oc-status-structs))
+(fire-up-drracket-and-run-tests 
+ (λ ()
+   (define tmp-dir (make-temporary-file "online-compilation-zo-creation~a" 'directory))
+   (define x.rkt (build-path tmp-dir "x.rkt"))
+   (define y.rkt (build-path tmp-dir "y.rkt"))
+   (call-with-output-file x.rkt
+     (λ (port)
+       (fprintf port "#lang racket/base\n")
+       (fprintf port "~s\n" `(require "y.rkt")))
+     #:exists 'truncate)
+   (call-with-output-file y.rkt
+     (λ (port)
+       (fprintf port "#lang racket/base\n"))
+     #:exists 'truncate)
+   (define drs-frame (wait-for-drracket-frame))
+   (queue-callback/res
+    (λ ()
+      (send (send drs-frame get-definitions-text) load-file x.rkt)))
+   (poll-until
+    (λ ()
+      (queue-callback/res
+       (λ ()
+         (clean? (send (send drs-frame get-current-tab) get-oc-status))))))
+   
+   (define compiled-dir-files
+     (cond
+       [(directory-exists? (build-path tmp-dir "compiled"))
+        (for/list ([file (in-directory (build-path tmp-dir "compiled"))])
+          (path->string (find-relative-path tmp-dir file)))]
+       [else
+        '()]))
+   (define expected-file "compiled/drracket/errortrace/y_rkt.zo")
+   (unless (member expected-file compiled-dir-files)
+     (eprintf "expected to find ~s in compiled dir but it contained ~s\n"
+              expected-file compiled-dir-files))
+   
+   (delete-directory/files tmp-dir)))