diff --git a/benchmark/lib.scm b/benchmark/lib.scm
index 457fc41be..e6ffc7a55 100644
--- a/benchmark/lib.scm
+++ b/benchmark/lib.scm
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 ;;    5    (br-if-not 0 3)                 ;; -> 11
 ;;    8    (make-int8 0)                   ;; 0
 ;;   10    (return)
-;;   11    (late-variable-ref 0)
+;;   11    (toplevel-ref 0)
 ;;   13    (local-ref 0)
 ;;   15    (make-int8 1)                   ;; 1
 ;;   17    (sub)
diff --git a/libguile/vm-i-system.c b/libguile/vm-i-system.c
index 39dcb9d3b..4f24aae6e 100644
--- a/libguile/vm-i-system.c
+++ b/libguile/vm-i-system.c
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (variable_ref, "variable-ref", 0, 0, 1)
   NEXT;
 }
 
-VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (late_variable_ref, "late-variable-ref", 1, 0, 1)
+VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (toplevel_ref, "toplevel-ref", 1, 0, 1)
 {
   unsigned objnum = FETCH ();
   SCM what;
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (variable_set, "variable-set", 0, 1, 0)
   NEXT;
 }
 
-VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (late_variable_set, "late-variable-set", 1, 1, 0)
+VM_DEFINE_INSTRUCTION (toplevel_set, "toplevel-set", 1, 1, 0)
 {
   unsigned objnum = FETCH ();
   SCM what;
diff --git a/module/system/vm/assemble.scm b/module/system/vm/assemble.scm
index 81cad8063..461d242a2 100644
--- a/module/system/vm/assemble.scm
+++ b/module/system/vm/assemble.scm
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@
                                     (set! object-alist (acons var i object-alist))
                                     i)))))
                    (push-code! (case op
-                                 ((ref) `(late-variable-ref ,i))
-                                 ((set) `(late-variable-set ,i))))))))
+                                 ((ref) `(toplevel-ref ,i))
+                                 ((set) `(toplevel-set ,i))))))))
               ((define)
                (push-object! (make-vdefine #:name name))
                (push-code! '(variable-set)))
@@ -249,8 +249,8 @@
                                       (set! object-alist (acons var i object-alist))
                                       i)))))
                      (push-code! (case op
-                                   ((ref) `(late-variable-ref ,i))
-                                   ((set) `(late-variable-set ,i))))))))
+                                   ((ref) `(toplevel-ref ,i))
+                                   ((set) `(toplevel-set ,i))))))))
                 (else
                  (error "unknown module var kind" op key)))))
 
diff --git a/module/system/vm/disasm.scm b/module/system/vm/disasm.scm
index 0987354ed..8bd565ba4 100644
--- a/module/system/vm/disasm.scm
+++ b/module/system/vm/disasm.scm
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
                   (list "`~a'~@[ (arg)~]"
                         (binding:name b) (< (binding:index b) nargs)))
                 (list "(closure variable)"))))
-      ((late-variable-ref late-variable-set)
+      ((toplevel-ref toplevel-set)
        (and objs
             (let ((v (vector-ref objs (car args))))
               (if (and (variable? v) (variable-bound? v))