diff --git a/pl/boot.yap b/pl/boot.yap
index fa002be94..732f30f0b 100644
--- a/pl/boot.yap
+++ b/pl/boot.yap
@@ -837,6 +837,7 @@ break :-
 	nb_setval('$break',BL).
 
 '$silent_bootstrap'(F) :-
+	'$allocate_default_arena'(1024, 64),
 	get_value('$lf_verbose',OldSilent),
 	set_value('$lf_verbose',silent),
 	bootstrap(F),