diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 2944758..9339e61 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@
  */
 static hashtab_T	compat_hashtab;
 
+/* When using exists() don't auto-load a script. */
+static int		no_autoload = FALSE;
+
 /*
  * When recursively copying lists and dicts we need to remember which ones we
  * have done to avoid endless recursiveness.  This unique ID is used for that.
@@ -9724,6 +9727,8 @@
     int		n = FALSE;
     int		len = 0;
 
+    no_autoload = TRUE;
+
     p = get_tv_string(&argvars[0]);
     if (*p == '$')			/* environment variable */
     {
@@ -9790,6 +9795,8 @@
     }
 
     rettv->vval.v_number = n;
+
+    no_autoload = FALSE;
 }
 
 #ifdef FEAT_FLOAT
@@ -21281,6 +21288,10 @@
     int		ret = FALSE;
     int		i;
 
+    /* Return quickly when autoload disabled. */
+    if (no_autoload)
+	return FALSE;
+
     /* If there is no '#' after name[0] there is no package name. */
     p = vim_strchr(name, AUTOLOAD_CHAR);
     if (p == NULL || p == name)