diff --git a/sys/boot/forth/loader.4th b/sys/boot/forth/loader.4th
index 51bfc92f9adc..f002c0774e82 100644
--- a/sys/boot/forth/loader.4th
+++ b/sys/boot/forth/loader.4th
@@ -65,17 +65,19 @@ only forth also support-functions also builtins definitions
     c@ [char] - <> if
       0 1 unload drop
     else
-      s" kernelname" getenv? 0= if ( no kernel has been loaded )
-	load_kernel_and_modules
-	?dup if exit then
+      s" kernelname" getenv? if ( a kernel has been loaded )
+        1 boot exit
       then
+      load_kernel_and_modules
+      ?dup if exit then
       0 1 boot exit
     then
   else
-    s" kernelname" getenv? 0= if ( no kernel has been loaded )
-      load_kernel_and_modules
-      ?dup if exit then
+    s" kernelname" getenv? if ( a kernel has been loaded )
+      1 boot exit
     then
+    load_kernel_and_modules
+    ?dup if exit then
     0 1 boot exit
   then
   load_kernel_and_modules