diff --git a/perl6.pir b/perl6.pir
index a7245c4..ac78526 100644
--- a/perl6.pir
+++ b/perl6.pir
@@ -37,9 +37,8 @@ Creates the Perl 6 compiler by subclassing a C<PCT::HLLCompiler> object.
     perl6.'parsegrammar'('Perl6::Grammar')
     perl6.'parseactions'('Perl6::Grammar::Actions')
 
-    ##  set the compilation stages in the @stages attribute
-    $P0 = split ' ', 'parse past check_syntax post pir evalpmc'
-    setattribute perl6, '@stages', $P0
+    ##  insert the check_syntax compilation stage
+    perl6.'addstage'('check_syntax', 'after' => 'past')
 
     ##  set the command line options
     $P0 = split ' ', 'c e=s help|h target=s trace|t=s encoding=s output|o=s version|v'