diff --git a/pl/arith.yap b/pl/arith.yap
index c8f59f9bf..8af05001e 100644
--- a/pl/arith.yap
+++ b/pl/arith.yap
@@ -167,6 +167,9 @@ do_not_compile_expressions :- set_value('$c_arith',[]).
 	var(V), !.
 '$expand_expr'([T], E, V) :- !,
 	'$expand_expr'(T, E, V).
+'$expand_expr'(String, _E, V) :-
+	string( String ), !,
+	string_codes(String, [V]).
 '$expand_expr'(A, true, A) :-
 	atomic(A), !.
 '$expand_expr'(T, E, V) :-
diff --git a/pl/boot.yap b/pl/boot.yap
index ec63e6a0e..2ac8d4ed0 100755
--- a/pl/boot.yap
+++ b/pl/boot.yap
@@ -28,11 +28,6 @@ true :- true.
     '$init_system'.
 
 '$do_live' :-
-    '$swi_current_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, OldF),
-    '$swi_set_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, true),
-    '$init_consult',
-    '$swi_set_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, OldF),
-    '$init_win_graphics',
     repeat,
     '$current_module'(Module),
     ( Module==user ->
@@ -72,6 +67,11 @@ true :- true.
 %	;
 %	 true
 %	),
+    '$swi_current_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, OldF),
+    '$swi_set_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, true),
+    '$init_consult',
+    '$swi_set_prolog_flag'(file_name_variables, OldF),
+    '$init_win_graphics',
     '$init_globals',
     '$swi_set_prolog_flag'(fileerrors, true),
     set_value('$gc',on),
diff --git a/pl/consult.yap b/pl/consult.yap
index ebc1ebacf..4e215e7f3 100755
--- a/pl/consult.yap
+++ b/pl/consult.yap
@@ -594,6 +594,12 @@ initialization(G,OPT) :-
 	  '$extend_exports'(File, Imports, OldF )
 	).
 
+%
+% reconsult at startup...
+%
+'$do_startup_reconsult'(_X) :-
+    '$init_win_graphics',
+    fail.
 '$do_startup_reconsult'(X) :-
 	( '$access_yap_flags'(15, 0) ->
 	  '$system_catch'(load_files(X, [silent(true)]), Module, Error, '$Error'(Error))