diff --git a/compiler/semantic/op.go b/compiler/semantic/op.go
index 01d31a40a2..5ca08d1c40 100644
--- a/compiler/semantic/op.go
+++ b/compiler/semantic/op.go
@@ -771,6 +771,10 @@ func (a *analyzer) semOp(o ast.Op, seq dag.Seq) dag.Seq {
 			Exprs: exprs,
 		})
 	case *ast.Load:
+		if !a.source.IsLake() {
+			a.error(o, errors.New("load operator cannot be used without a lake"))
+			return []dag.Op{badOp()}
+		}
 		poolID, err := lakeparse.ParseID(o.Pool)
 		if err != nil {
 			poolID, err = a.source.PoolID(a.ctx, o.Pool)
diff --git a/compiler/ztests/load-no-lake.yaml b/compiler/ztests/load-no-lake.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d169e19e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/ztests/load-no-lake.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+zed: "load test"
+
+errorRE: "load operator cannot be used without a lake"