diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index fc085e6d0ef..d4bb338fc0b 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -519,6 +519,19 @@ DIRS are relative."
       xdg-dir)
      (t emacs-d-dir))))
 
+(defvar comp--delayed-sources)
+(defvar comp--loadable)
+(declare-function native--compile-async "comp.el"
+                  (files &optional recursively load selector))
+(defun startup--honor-delayed-native-compilations ()
+  "Honor pending delayed deferred native compilations."
+  (when (and (native-comp-available-p)
+             comp--delayed-sources)
+    (require 'comp)
+    (setq comp--loadable t)
+    (native--compile-async comp--delayed-sources nil 'late)
+    (setq comp--delayed-sources nil)))
+
 (defvar native-comp-eln-load-path)
 (defun normal-top-level ()
   "Emacs calls this function when it first starts up.
@@ -785,7 +798,8 @@ It is the default value of the variable `top-level'."
           (if (string-match "\\`DISPLAY=" varval)
               (setq display varval))))
       (when display
-        (delete display process-environment)))))
+        (delete display process-environment))))
+  (startup--honor-delayed-native-compilations))
 
 ;; Precompute the keyboard equivalents in the menu bar items.
 ;; Command-line options supported by tty's:
diff --git a/src/comp.c b/src/comp.c
index 5b947fc99b6..ab7006cca64 100644
--- a/src/comp.c
+++ b/src/comp.c
@@ -4786,10 +4786,6 @@ register_native_comp_unit (Lisp_Object comp_u)
 /* Deferred compilation mechanism. */
 /***********************************/
 
-/* List of sources we'll compile and load after having conventionally
-   loaded the compiler and its dependencies.  */
-static Lisp_Object delayed_sources;
-
 /* Queue an asynchronous compilation for the source file defining
    FUNCTION_NAME and perform a late load.
 
@@ -4846,30 +4842,16 @@ maybe_defer_native_compilation (Lisp_Object function_name,
 
   /* This is so deferred compilation is able to compile comp
      dependencies breaking circularity.  */
-  if (!NILP (Ffeaturep (Qcomp, Qnil)))
+  if (comp__loadable)
     {
-      /* Comp already loaded.  */
-      if (!NILP (delayed_sources))
-	{
-	  CALLN (Ffuncall, intern_c_string ("native--compile-async"),
-		 delayed_sources, Qnil, Qlate);
-	  delayed_sources = Qnil;
-	}
+      /* Startup is done, comp is usable.  */
+      Frequire (Qcomp, Qnil, Qnil);
       Fputhash (function_name, definition, Vcomp_deferred_pending_h);
       CALLN (Ffuncall, intern_c_string ("native--compile-async"),
 	     src, Qnil, Qlate);
     }
   else
-    {
-      delayed_sources = Fcons (src, delayed_sources);
-      /* Require comp only once.  */
-      static bool comp_required = false;
-      if (!comp_required)
-	{
-	  comp_required = true;
-	  Frequire (Qcomp, Qnil, Qnil);
-	}
-    }
+    Vcomp__delayed_sources = Fcons (src, Vcomp__delayed_sources);
 }
 
 
@@ -5328,6 +5310,13 @@ void
 syms_of_comp (void)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_NATIVE_COMP
+  DEFVAR_LISP ("comp--delayed-sources", Vcomp__delayed_sources,
+	       doc: /* List of sources to be native compiled when
+		       startup is finished.  For internal use.  */);
+  DEFVAR_BOOL ("comp--loadable",
+	       comp__loadable,
+	       doc: /* Non-nil when comp.el can be loaded.  For
+		       internal use. */);
   /* Compiler control customizes.  */
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("native-comp-deferred-compilation",
 	       native_comp_deferred_compilation,
@@ -5468,8 +5457,6 @@ compiled one.  */);
   staticpro (&comp.func_blocks_h);
   staticpro (&comp.emitter_dispatcher);
   comp.emitter_dispatcher = Qnil;
-  staticpro (&delayed_sources);
-  delayed_sources = Qnil;
   staticpro (&loadsearch_re_list);
   loadsearch_re_list = Qnil;