diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
index d8b4595..22676ae 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
@@ -1147,7 +1147,9 @@ If successful, set `package-archive-contents'."
     (package-read-archive-contents (car archive)))
   ;; Build compat table.
   (setq package--compatibility-table (make-hash-table :test 'eq))
-  (package--mapc #'package--add-to-compatibility-table))
+  ;; Pretend package is initialized when reading for the first time.
+  (let ((package--initialized t))
+    (package--mapc #'package--add-to-compatibility-table)))
 
 (defun package-read-archive-contents (archive)
   "Re-read archive contents for ARCHIVE.