diff --git a/unix/mpconfigport.h b/unix/mpconfigport.h
index 024f65b744..36e98735f6 100644
--- a/unix/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/unix/mpconfigport.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 // options to control how Micro Python is built
 
 #define MICROPY_ALLOC_PATH_MAX      (PATH_MAX)
+#define MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE_LOAD (1)
 #if !defined(MICROPY_EMIT_X64) && defined(__x86_64__)
     #define MICROPY_EMIT_X64        (1)
 #endif