diff --git a/compiler/scriptconfig.nim b/compiler/scriptconfig.nim
index aaa2486e5d..22cd282fda 100644
--- a/compiler/scriptconfig.nim
+++ b/compiler/scriptconfig.nim
@@ -140,4 +140,7 @@ proc runNimScript*(scriptName: string) =
   # ensure we load 'system.nim' again for the real non-config stuff!
   resetAllModulesHard()
   vm.globalCtx = nil
-  initDefines()
+  # do not remove the defined symbols
+  #initDefines()
+  undefSymbol("nimscript")
+  undefSymbol("nimconfig")
diff --git a/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nim b/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nim
index 0ace7c88a7..d593d4a756 100644
--- a/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nim
+++ b/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nim
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ discard """
   msg: '''[NimScript] exec: gcc -v'''
 """
 
+when not defined(definedefine):
+  {.fatal: "wrong nim script configuration".}
+
 echo "hello world!"
diff --git a/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nims b/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nims
index 90205cddba..a2166576d0 100644
--- a/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nims
+++ b/tests/newconfig/tfoo.nims
@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ task listDirs, "lists every subdirectory":
     echo "DIR ", x
 
 task default, "default target":
+  --define: definedefine
   setCommand "c"