Index: compilers/pct/src/PCT/HLLCompiler.pir
===================================================================
--- compilers/pct/src/PCT/HLLCompiler.pir	(revision 26643)
+++ compilers/pct/src/PCT/HLLCompiler.pir	(working copy)
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@
     $P0 = split ' ', 'e=s help|h target=s trace|t=s encoding=s output|o=s combine each version|v'
     setattribute self, '@cmdoptions', $P0
 
+    $P4 = new 'String'
+    $P4 = '> '
+    setattribute self, '$commandline_prompt', $P4
+
     $P1 = new 'String'
     $P1 = <<'    USAGE'
   This compiler is based on PCT::HLLCompiler.
@@ -493,16 +497,18 @@
     ##  FIXME:  we have to avoid stdin.'readline'() when readline
     ##  libraries aren't present (RT #41103)
 
+    if has_readline < 0 goto no_readline
+
     # for each input line, print the prompt
-    $P0 = self.'commandline_prompt'()
-    printerr $P0
+    $S0 = self.'commandline_prompt'()
+    code = stdin.'readline'($S0)
 
-    if has_readline < 0 goto no_readline
-    code = stdin.'readline'('> ')
     if null code goto interactive_end
     concat code, "\n"
     goto have_code
   no_readline:
+    $S0 = self.'commandline_prompt'()
+    printerr $S0
     $S0 = readline stdin
     code = new 'String'
     code = $S0
