diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 0cea5c7..cba5594 100755
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -14,18 +14,19 @@ class Bot(object):
         if not os.path.exists(self.persist_dir):
             os.mkdir(self.persist_dir)
 
+bot = Bot()
+
 def main():
     sys.path += ['plugins']  # so 'import hook' works without duplication
     sys.path += ['lib']
     os.chdir(sys.path[0] or '.')  # do stuff relative to the install directory
 
-    bot = Bot()
-
     print 'Loading plugins'
 
     # bootstrap the reloader
     eval(compile(open(os.path.join('core', 'reload.py'), 'U').read(),
-                 os.path.join('core', 'reload.py'), 'exec'))
+                 os.path.join('core', 'reload.py'), 'exec'),
+         globals())
     reload(init=True)
 
     print 'Connecting to IRC'