diff --git a/extlib/benz/symbol.c b/extlib/benz/symbol.c
index fcb5fb2d..772ecf96 100644
--- a/extlib/benz/symbol.c
+++ b/extlib/benz/symbol.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ pic_intern_cstr(pic_state *pic, const char *cstr)
   strcpy(copy, cstr);
   kh_key(h, it) = copy;
 
+  kh_val(h, it) = pic->sDEFINE; /* insert dummy */
+
   sym = (pic_sym *)pic_obj_alloc(pic, sizeof(pic_sym), PIC_TT_SYMBOL);
   sym->cstr = copy;
   kh_val(h, it) = sym;