diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9bac436cb..649f855f2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ DEVPKGS=-rdev-requirements.txt -rtest-requirements.txt -rmypy-requirements.txt -
 COVBASE=coverage run --append
 PYTEST_EXTRA ?=
 
-VERSION=8.8.$(shell date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S --utc --date=`git log --first-parent \
+VERSION=8.9.$(shell date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S --utc --date=`git log --first-parent \
 	--max-count=1 --format=format:%cI`)
 
 ## all                    : default task (install schema-salad in dev mode)
diff --git a/schema_salad/ref_resolver.py b/schema_salad/ref_resolver.py
index ea1fed732..9451aa949 100644
--- a/schema_salad/ref_resolver.py
+++ b/schema_salad/ref_resolver.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import requests
 from cachecontrol.caches import SeparateBodyFileCache
 from cachecontrol.wrapper import CacheControl
+from mypy_extensions import mypyc_attr
 from rdflib.exceptions import ParserError
 from rdflib.graph import Graph
 from rdflib.namespace import OWL, RDF, RDFS
@@ -134,6 +135,11 @@ def SubLoader(loader: "Loader") -> "Loader":
     )
 
 
+def _url_norm(url: str) -> str:
+    return urllib.parse.urlsplit(url).geturl()
+
+
+@mypyc_attr(allow_interpreted_subclasses=True)
 class Loader:
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -150,9 +156,7 @@ def __init__(
         doc_cache: Union[str, bool] = True,
         salad_version: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> None:
-        self.idx: IdxType = (
-            NormDict(lambda url: urllib.parse.urlsplit(url).geturl()) if idx is None else idx
-        )
+        self.idx: IdxType = NormDict(_url_norm) if idx is None else idx
 
         self.ctx: ContextType = {}
         self.graph = schemagraph if schemagraph is not None else Graph()
diff --git a/schema_salad/tests/test_pickling.py b/schema_salad/tests/test_pickling.py
index 96c42bab9..7d0948d5c 100644
--- a/schema_salad/tests/test_pickling.py
+++ b/schema_salad/tests/test_pickling.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import pickle
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from schema_salad import schema
+from schema_salad import ref_resolver, schema
 from schema_salad.avro.schema import Names, RecordSchema
 
 from .util import get_data_uri
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@ def test_recordschema_pickle() -> None:
     print(pickle.loads(d))
 
 
+def test_loader_pickle() -> None:
+    """Pickle a Loader."""
+    loader = ref_resolver.Loader({})
+    print(loader)
+    d = pickle.dumps(loader)
+    print(pickle.loads(d))
+
+
 def test_extend_and_specialize_enums(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     cwl_file_uri = get_data_uri("tests/test_schema/CommonWorkflowLanguage.yml")
     _, avsc_names, _, _ = schema.load_schema(cwl_file_uri)
diff --git a/schema_salad/validate.py b/schema_salad/validate.py
index 52fe57c00..8125164ec 100644
--- a/schema_salad/validate.py
+++ b/schema_salad/validate.py
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ def avro_type_name(url: str) -> str:
     Extract either the last part of the URL fragment past the slash, otherwise
     the whole fragment.
     """
-    global primitives
 
     if url in primitives:
         return primitives[url]