diff --git a/core/core-cli.el b/core/core-cli.el
index 0321c6687..73aa8241d 100644
--- a/core/core-cli.el
+++ b/core/core-cli.el
@@ -750,6 +750,7 @@ If RECOMPILE-P is non-nil, only recompile out-of-date files."
             (message "No targets to %scompile" (if recompile-p "re" "")))
           (cl-return-from 'byte-compile))
         (condition-case e
+            (require 'use-package)
             (let ((use-package-defaults use-package-defaults)
                   (use-package-expand-minimally t))
               ;; Prevent packages from being loaded at compile time if they