diff --git a/lib/rubygems/specification.rb b/lib/rubygems/specification.rb
index 9bec95af989e..f6162dd24bb0 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/specification.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/specification.rb
@@ -536,7 +536,11 @@ def self.load file
     code.untaint
 
     begin
-      spec = eval code, binding, file
+      spec = nil
+
+      Deprecate.skip_during do
+        spec = eval code, binding, file
+      end
 
       if Gem::Specification === spec
         spec.loaded_from = file.to_s