diff --git a/ice-9/rw.scm b/ice-9/rw.scm
index 6b5327ea1..da4bd86d9 100644
--- a/ice-9/rw.scm
+++ b/ice-9/rw.scm
@@ -24,3 +24,5 @@
 
 (define-module (ice-9 rw)
   :export (read-string!/partial))
+
+(%init-rw-builtins)