diff --git a/src/code/reader.lisp b/src/code/reader.lisp                                                                                                               
index 4afa029d3..be1b84361 100644                                                                                                                                      
--- a/src/code/reader.lisp                                                                                                                                             
+++ b/src/code/reader.lisp                                                                                                                                             
@@ -1239,6 +1239,17 @@ standard Lisp readtable when NIL."                                                                                                              
                             (err))                                                                                                                                    
                           (err))))))))))                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                       
+(declaim (type (or function symbol cons) *read-intern*))                                                                                                              
+(defvar *read-intern* nil                                                                                                                                             
+  "Function to call instead of INTERN in the reader.")                                                                                                                
+                                                                                                                                                                      
+;; (defmacro %read-intern-or (string package &body body)                                                                                                              
+;;   "Call the *READ-INTERN* function, if it's set, with SYMBOL and PACKAGE or                                                                                        
+;; eval BODY."                                                                                                                                                        
+;;   `(if (and *read-intern* (or (functionp *read-intern*) (fboundp *read-intern*)))                                                                                  
+;;        (funcall *read-intern* ,string ,package)                                                                                                                    
+;;        (progn ,@body)))                                                                                                                                            
+                                                                                                                                                                      
 (defun read-token (stream firstchar)                                                                                                                                  
   "Default readmacro function. Handles numbers, symbols, and SBCL's                                                                                                   
 extended <package-name>::<form-in-package> syntax."                                                                                                                   
@@ -1581,6 +1592,10 @@ extended <package-name>::<form-in-package> syntax."                                                                                             
       RETURN-SYMBOL                                                                                                                                                   
         (setf buf (normalize-read-buffer buf))                                                                                                                        
         (casify-read-buffer buf)                                                                                                                                      
+        (when (and *read-intern* (or (functionp *read-intern*)                                                                                                        
+                                     (fboundp *read-intern*)))                                                                                                        
+          (return (funcall *read-intern*                                                                                                                              
+                           (sized-token-buf-string buf) package-designator)))                                                                                         
         (multiple-value-bind (pkg restart-kind)                                                                                                                       
             (if package-designator                                                                                                                                    
                 (reader-find-package package-designator stream t)