diff --git a/lisp/loadup.el b/lisp/loadup.el
index 1989bfd17b2..6cd845c9186 100644
--- a/lisp/loadup.el
+++ b/lisp/loadup.el
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@
       (garbage-collect)
       (load "disp-table") ; needed to setup ibm-pc char set, see internal.el
       (garbage-collect)
+      (load "international/mule-util") ; needed for coding systems
+      (garbage-collect)
       (load "dos-w32")
       (garbage-collect)
       (load "w32-fns")
@@ -179,6 +181,8 @@
     (progn
       (load "ls-lisp")
       (garbage-collect)
+      (load "international/mule-util") ; needed for coding systems
+      (garbage-collect)
       (load "dos-w32")
       (garbage-collect)
       (load "dos-fns")