diff --git a/lapi.c b/lapi.c
index 9b6ca1ec..53eb1719 100644
--- a/lapi.c
+++ b/lapi.c
@@ -1122,6 +1122,7 @@ LUA_API int lua_load (lua_State *L, lua_Reader reader, void *data,
   ZIO z;
   TStatus status;
   lua_lock(L);
+  luaC_checkGC(L);
   if (!chunkname) chunkname = "?";
   luaZ_init(L, &z, reader, data);
   status = luaD_protectedparser(L, &z, chunkname, mode);