diff --git a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
index 4c616a3c4..b45686204 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def globals():
 
         # ARTIQ decorators
         "kernel":               builtins.fn_kernel(),
+        "portable":             builtins.fn_kernel(),
 
         # ARTIQ context managers
         "parallel":             builtins.obj_parallel(),