(defpackage :foo (:use :cl)) (in-package :foo) (defvar *data* nil) (defpackage :bar (:use :cl)) (in-package :bar) (eval-when (:compile-toplevel) (import 'foo::*data*)) (setf *data* 99) Compile this, restart ABCL, and load the fasl. foo::*data* is NIL and bar::*data* is 99. It's possible the code is somehow nonconforming, however it sure seems that foo::*data* should be written and later loaded, which is the behavior of other Lisps. The issue is also exhibited with (compile-file "test.lisp") (delete-package :foo) (delete-package :bar) (load "test.abcl")