diff --git a/pkgs/drracket-pkgs/drracket/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt b/pkgs/drracket-pkgs/drracket/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
index 43d140754a..75b66eedb0 100644
--- a/pkgs/drracket-pkgs/drracket/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/drracket-pkgs/drracket/drracket/private/eval-helpers.rkt
@@ -73,6 +73,17 @@
   (compile-enforce-module-constants (prefab-module-settings-enforce-module-constants settings))
   (define path->pkg-cache (make-hash))
   (when (prefab-module-settings-compilation-on? settings)
+    (define pkg-directory-cache (make-hash))
+    (define (pkg-directory/use-cache pkg)
+      (cond
+        [(hash-ref pkg-directory-cache pkg #f)
+         =>
+         values]
+        [else
+         (define ans (pkg-directory pkg))
+         (hash-set! pkg-directory-cache pkg ans)
+         ans]))
+    
     (define open-pkgs
       (for/fold ([s (set)]) ([path (in-list currently-open-files)])
         (define pkg (path->pkg path #:cache path->pkg-cache))
@@ -97,17 +108,6 @@
                           (not (set-member? open-pkgs pkg))
                           (file-stamp-in-paths p (list (pkg-directory/use-cache pkg)))))))))
     
-    (define pkg-directory-cache (make-hash))
-    (define (pkg-directory/use-cache pkg)
-      (cond
-        [(hash-ref pkg-directory-cache pkg #f)
-         =>
-         values]
-        [else
-         (define ans (pkg-directory pkg))
-         (hash-set! pkg-directory-cache pkg ans)
-         ans]))
-    
     (define extra-compiled-file-path
       (case (prefab-module-settings-annotations settings)
         [(none) (build-path "compiled" "drracket")]