diff --git a/dynload.c b/dynload.c
index 9482e9b..40582d9 100644
--- a/dynload.c
+++ b/dynload.c
@@ -130,6 +130,20 @@ lookup_dlsym(char *name, long *location)
   name++;
 #endif
 
+  /* find the name in the self process image - ie original scheme48
+     executable file */
+  if (!selfhandle)
+    selfhandle=dlopen((char*)0, S48_DLOPEN_MODE);
+  if (adr=dlsym(selfhandle, name)) {
+    *location = (long) adr;
+#ifdef DLDEBUG
+  printf(" %s:%d %s name='%s' in self at adr=%#x\n",
+	 __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__,
+	 name, (long) adr);
+#endif /*DLDEBUG*/
+    return 1;
+  };
+
 /* perhaps i should scan the dlopened_handle from last to first,
    to find newest incarnation of symbol? in practice it should be faster
    to go from first (oldest) to last,
@@ -145,19 +159,6 @@ lookup_dlsym(char *name, long *location)
 #endif /*DLDEBUG*/
       return 1;
     };
-  /* find the name in the self process image - ie original scheme48
-     executable file */
-  if (!selfhandle)
-    selfhandle=dlopen((char*)0, S48_DLOPEN_MODE);
-  if (adr=dlsym(selfhandle, name)) {
-    *location = (long) adr;
-#ifdef DLDEBUG
-  printf(" %s:%d %s name='%s' in self at adr=%#x\n",
-	 __FILE__, __LINE__, __FUNCTION__,
-	 name, (long) adr);
-#endif /*DLDEBUG*/
-    return 1;
-  };
   /* can't find name so return 0 */
 #ifdef DLDEBUG
   printf(" %s:%d %s name='%s' not found\n",