diff --git a/railties/lib/initializer.rb b/railties/lib/initializer.rb
index 7273cea0c50b9..9148bddaf2ece 100644
--- a/railties/lib/initializer.rb
+++ b/railties/lib/initializer.rb
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def add_gem_load_paths
     end
 
     def load_gems
-      unless $gems_build_rake_task
+      unless $gems_rake_task
         @configuration.gems.each { |gem| gem.load }
       end
     end