diff --git a/base/precompilation.jl b/base/precompilation.jl
index edd8824ff8d686..6c54ec445728c5 100644
--- a/base/precompilation.jl
+++ b/base/precompilation.jl
@@ -1031,9 +1031,12 @@ end
 
 # Can be merged with `maybe_cachefile_lock` in loading?
 function precompile_pkgs_maybe_cachefile_lock(f, io::IO, print_lock::ReentrantLock, fancyprint::Bool, pkg_config, pkgspidlocked, hascolor)
+    FileWatching = get(Base.loaded_modules, Base.PkgId(Base.UUID("7b1f6079-737a-58dc-b8bc-7a2ca5c1b5ee"), "FileWatching"), nothing)
+    if FileWatching === nothing
+        return f()
+    end
     pkg, config = pkg_config
     flags, cacheflags = config
-    FileWatching = Base.loaded_modules[Base.PkgId(Base.UUID("7b1f6079-737a-58dc-b8bc-7a2ca5c1b5ee"), "FileWatching")]
     stale_age = Base.compilecache_pidlock_stale_age
     pidfile = Base.compilecache_pidfile_path(pkg, flags=cacheflags)
     cachefile = FileWatching.trymkpidlock(f, pidfile; stale_age)