diff --git a/tests/new_prog_test.sh b/tests/new_prog_test.sh
index efbc4ca79..57ded264b 100755
--- a/tests/new_prog_test.sh
+++ b/tests/new_prog_test.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ expect_json_field_eq '{}' prog_loads_total "${DATA}"
 
 touch $PROGS/nocode.mtail
 uri_get /debug/vars
-expect_json_field_eq '{  "nocode.mtail": 1}' prog_loads_total "${DATA}"
+expect_json_field_eq '{  "nocode.mtail": 2}' prog_loads_total "${DATA}"
 
 pass
diff --git a/vm/mcp.go b/vm/mcp.go
index 0feabbad4..3ab881dda 100644
--- a/vm/mcp.go
+++ b/vm/mcp.go
@@ -386,6 +386,10 @@ func (l *MasterControl) processEvents(events <-chan watcher.Event) {
 		case watcher.Create:
 			if err := l.w.Add(event.Pathname, l.eventsHandle); err != nil {
 				glog.Info(err)
+				continue
+			}
+			if err := l.LoadProgram(event.Pathname); err != nil {
+				glog.Info(err)
 			}
 		default:
 			glog.V(1).Infof("Unexpected event type %+#v", event)