diff --git a/hosts/ocaml/bin/sx_server.ml b/hosts/ocaml/bin/sx_server.ml
index 85c16d5..f758702 100644
--- a/hosts/ocaml/bin/sx_server.ml
+++ b/hosts/ocaml/bin/sx_server.ml
@@ -435,6 +435,17 @@ let make_server_env () =
        | [], _ -> Nil)
     | _ -> Nil);
 
+  (* qq-expand-runtime — quasiquote expansion at runtime.
+     The bytecode compiler emits CALL_PRIM "qq-expand-runtime" for
+     backtick expressions. Expands the template with the calling env. *)
+  bind "qq-expand-runtime" (fun args ->
+    match args with
+    | [template] ->
+      (* qq_expand needs an env — use the kernel env *)
+      Sx_ref.qq_expand template (Env env)
+    | [template; Env e] -> Sx_ref.qq_expand template (Env e)
+    | _ -> Nil);
+
   (* Evaluator bridge — aser calls these spec functions.
      Route to the OCaml CEK machine. *)
   bind "eval-expr" (fun args ->
diff --git a/spec/compiler.sx b/spec/compiler.sx
index fb13be9..cbc7533 100644
--- a/spec/compiler.sx
+++ b/spec/compiler.sx
@@ -584,28 +584,30 @@
 
 (define compile-defcomp
   (fn (em args scope)
-    "Compile defcomp/defisland — delegates to runtime primitive."
-    ;; For now, quote the entire defcomp form and call the primitive
-    (emit-const em (concat (list (make-symbol "defcomp")) args))
+    "Compile defcomp/defisland — delegates to runtime via GLOBAL_GET + CALL."
     (let ((name-idx (pool-add (get em "pool") "eval-defcomp")))
-      (emit-op em 52) (emit-u16 em name-idx) (emit-byte em 1))  ;; CALL_PRIM
-    ))
+      (emit-op em 20) (emit-u16 em name-idx))  ;; GLOBAL_GET fn
+    (emit-const em (concat (list (make-symbol "defcomp")) args))
+    (emit-op em 48) (emit-byte em 1)))  ;; CALL 1
 
 (define compile-defmacro
   (fn (em args scope)
-    "Compile defmacro — delegates to runtime."
-    (emit-const em (concat (list (make-symbol "defmacro")) args))
+    "Compile defmacro — delegates to runtime via GLOBAL_GET + CALL."
     (let ((name-idx (pool-add (get em "pool") "eval-defmacro")))
-      (emit-op em 52) (emit-u16 em name-idx) (emit-byte em 1))))
+      (emit-op em 20) (emit-u16 em name-idx))  ;; GLOBAL_GET fn
+    (emit-const em (concat (list (make-symbol "defmacro")) args))
+    (emit-op em 48) (emit-byte em 1)))
 
 
 (define compile-quasiquote
   (fn (em expr scope)
-    "Compile quasiquote — for now, quote the template and call qq-expand at runtime."
-    (emit-const em expr)  ;; push template
-    ;; qq-expand is a runtime function — call it
+    "Compile quasiquote — look up qq-expand-runtime in globals and call it.
+     Uses GLOBAL_GET + CALL (not CALL_PRIM) since it's a runtime function."
+    ;; Stack: push fn first, then arg, then CALL 1
     (let ((name-idx (pool-add (get em "pool") "qq-expand-runtime")))
-      (emit-op em 52) (emit-u16 em name-idx) (emit-byte em 1))))
+      (emit-op em 20) (emit-u16 em name-idx))  ;; GLOBAL_GET fn
+    (emit-const em expr)                         ;; push template
+    (emit-op em 48) (emit-byte em 1)))
 
 
 ;; --------------------------------------------------------------------------