diff --git a/base/Base.jl b/base/Base.jl
index c729ab9ca707e..e02b132aae6e4 100644
--- a/base/Base.jl
+++ b/base/Base.jl
@@ -629,8 +629,7 @@ function profile_printing_listener(cond::Base.AsyncCondition)
     profile = nothing
     try
         while _trywait(cond)
-            # this call to require is mostly legal, only because Profile has no dependencies and is usually in LOAD_PATH
-            profile = @something(profile, require(PkgId(UUID("9abbd945-dff8-562f-b5e8-e1ebf5ef1b79"), "Profile")))::Module
+            profile = @something(profile, require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID("9abbd945-dff8-562f-b5e8-e1ebf5ef1b79"), "Profile")))::Module
             invokelatest(profile.peek_report[])
             if Base.get_bool_env("JULIA_PROFILE_PEEK_HEAP_SNAPSHOT", false) === true
                 println(stderr, "Saving heap snapshot...")
diff --git a/base/client.jl b/base/client.jl
index 201792c786b51..31a3016489dcd 100644
--- a/base/client.jl
+++ b/base/client.jl
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ function exec_options(opts)
     # Load Distributed module only if any of the Distributed options have been specified.
     distributed_mode = (opts.worker == 1) || (opts.nprocs > 0) || (opts.machine_file != C_NULL)
     if distributed_mode
-        let Distributed = require(PkgId(UUID((0x8ba89e20_285c_5b6f, 0x9357_94700520ee1b)), "Distributed"))
+        let Distributed = require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID((0x8ba89e20_285c_5b6f, 0x9357_94700520ee1b)), "Distributed"))
             Core.eval(MainInclude, :(const Distributed = $Distributed))
             Core.eval(Main, :(using Base.MainInclude.Distributed))
         end
@@ -386,7 +386,8 @@ function load_InteractiveUtils(mod::Module=Main)
     # load interactive-only libraries
     if !isdefined(MainInclude, :InteractiveUtils)
         try
-            let InteractiveUtils = require(PkgId(UUID(0xb77e0a4c_d291_57a0_90e8_8db25a27a240), "InteractiveUtils"))
+            # TODO: we have to use require_stdlib here because it is a dependency of REPL, but we would sort of prefer not to
+            let InteractiveUtils = require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID(0xb77e0a4c_d291_57a0_90e8_8db25a27a240), "InteractiveUtils"))
                 Core.eval(MainInclude, :(const InteractiveUtils = $InteractiveUtils))
             end
         catch ex
@@ -401,7 +402,7 @@ end
 function load_REPL()
     # load interactive-only libraries
     try
-        return Base.require(PkgId(UUID(0x3fa0cd96_eef1_5676_8a61_b3b8758bbffb), "REPL"))
+        return Base.require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID(0x3fa0cd96_eef1_5676_8a61_b3b8758bbffb), "REPL"))
     catch ex
         @warn "Failed to import REPL" exception=(ex, catch_backtrace())
     end
diff --git a/base/loading.jl b/base/loading.jl
index 3c7bb28cfdd17..2be97237238dd 100644
--- a/base/loading.jl
+++ b/base/loading.jl
@@ -256,9 +256,9 @@ struct LoadingCache
     env_project_file::Dict{String, Union{Bool, String}}
     project_file_manifest_path::Dict{String, Union{Nothing, String}}
     require_parsed::Set{String}
-    identified_where::Dict{Tuple{PkgId, String}, Union{Nothing, Tuple{PkgId, Union{Nothing, String}}}}
-    identified::Dict{String, Union{Nothing, Tuple{PkgId, Union{Nothing, String}}}}
-    located::Dict{Tuple{PkgId, Union{String, Nothing}}, Union{Tuple{Union{String, Nothing}, Union{String, Nothing}}, Nothing}}
+    identified_where::Dict{Tuple{PkgId, String}, Union{Nothing, Tuple{PkgId, String}}}
+    identified::Dict{String, Union{Nothing, Tuple{PkgId, String}}}
+    located::Dict{Tuple{PkgId, Union{String, Nothing}}, Union{Tuple{String, String}, Nothing}}
 end
 const LOADING_CACHE = Ref{Union{LoadingCache, Nothing}}(nothing)
 LoadingCache() = LoadingCache(load_path(), Dict(), Dict(), Dict(), Set(), Dict(), Dict(), Dict())
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ end
 ## package identification: determine unique identity of package to be loaded ##
 
 # Used by Pkg but not used in loading itself
-function find_package(arg)
+function find_package(arg) # ::Union{Nothing,String}
     pkgenv = identify_package_env(arg)
     pkgenv === nothing && return nothing
     pkg, env = pkgenv
@@ -307,21 +307,21 @@ end
 
 """
     Base.identify_package_env(name::String)::Union{Tuple{PkgId, String}, Nothing}
-    Base.identify_package_env(where::Union{Module,PkgId}, name::String)::Union{Tuple{PkgId, String} Nothing}
+    Base.identify_package_env(where::Union{Module,PkgId}, name::String)::Union{Tuple{PkgId, Union{String, Nothing}}, Nothing}
 
 Same as [`Base.identify_package`](@ref) except that the path to the environment where the package is identified
-is also returned.
+is also returned, except when the identity is not identified.
 """
 identify_package_env(where::Module, name::String) = identify_package_env(PkgId(where), name)
 function identify_package_env(where::PkgId, name::String)
     cache = LOADING_CACHE[]
     if cache !== nothing
-        pkg_env = get(cache.identified_where, (where, name), nothing)
-        pkg_env === nothing || return pkg_env
+        pkg_env = get(cache.identified_where, (where, name), missing)
+        pkg_env === missing || return pkg_env
     end
     pkg_env = nothing
     if where.name === name
-        pkg_env = where, nothing
+        return (where, nothing)
     elseif where.uuid === nothing
         pkg_env = identify_package_env(name) # ignore `where`
     else
@@ -342,8 +342,8 @@ end
 function identify_package_env(name::String)
     cache = LOADING_CACHE[]
     if cache !== nothing
-        pkg_env = get(cache.identified, name, nothing)
-        pkg_env === nothing || return pkg_env
+        pkg_env = get(cache.identified, name, missing)
+        pkg_env === missing || return pkg_env
     end
     pkg_env = nothing
     for env in load_path()
@@ -390,17 +390,16 @@ identify_package(where::Module, name::String) = _nothing_or_first(identify_packa
 identify_package(where::PkgId, name::String)  = _nothing_or_first(identify_package_env(where, name))
 identify_package(name::String)                = _nothing_or_first(identify_package_env(name))
 
-function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)
+function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)::Union{Nothing,Tuple{String,String}}
     cache = LOADING_CACHE[]
     if cache !== nothing
-        pathenv = get(cache.located, (pkg, stopenv), nothing)
-        pathenv === nothing || return pathenv
+        pathenv = get(cache.located, (pkg, stopenv), missing)
+        pathenv === missing || return pathenv
     end
     path = nothing
     env′ = nothing
     if pkg.uuid === nothing
         for env in load_path()
-            env′ = env
             # look for the toplevel pkg `pkg.name` in this entry
             found = project_deps_get(env, pkg.name)
             if found !== nothing
@@ -410,6 +409,7 @@ function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)
                     # return the path the entry point for the code, if it could be found
                     # otherwise, signal failure
                     path = implicit_manifest_uuid_path(env, pkg)
+                    env′ = env
                     @goto done
                 end
             end
@@ -419,7 +419,6 @@ function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)
         end
     else
         for env in load_path()
-            env′ = env
             path = manifest_uuid_path(env, pkg)
             # missing is used as a sentinel to stop looking further down in envs
             if path === missing
@@ -428,6 +427,7 @@ function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)
             end
             if path !== nothing
                 path = entry_path(path, pkg.name)
+                env′ = env
                 @goto done
             end
             if !(loading_extension || precompiling_extension)
@@ -439,14 +439,16 @@ function locate_package_env(pkg::PkgId, stopenv::Union{String, Nothing}=nothing)
         mbypath = manifest_uuid_path(Sys.STDLIB, pkg)
         if mbypath isa String
             path = entry_path(mbypath, pkg.name)
+            env′ = Sys.STDLIB
             @goto done
         end
     end
     @label done
     if cache !== nothing
-        cache.located[(pkg, stopenv)] = path, env′
+        cache.located[(pkg, stopenv)] = path === nothing ? nothing : (path, something(env′))
     end
-    return path, env′
+    path === nothing && return nothing
+    return path, something(env′)
 end
 
 """
@@ -1083,11 +1085,12 @@ end
 # want it to pick up caches that already exist for other optimization levels
 const ignore_compiled_cache = PkgId[]
 
-function find_all_in_cache_path(pkg::PkgId)
+function find_all_in_cache_path(pkg::PkgId, DEPOT_PATH::typeof(DEPOT_PATH)=DEPOT_PATH)
     paths = String[]
     pkg in ignore_compiled_cache && return paths
     entrypath, entryfile = cache_file_entry(pkg)
-    for path in joinpath.(DEPOT_PATH, entrypath)
+    for path in DEPOT_PATH
+        path = joinpath(path, entrypath)
         isdir(path) || continue
         for file in readdir(path, sort = false) # no sort given we sort later
             if !((pkg.uuid === nothing && file == entryfile * ".ji") ||
@@ -1142,6 +1145,8 @@ cachefile_from_ocachefile(cachefile) = string(chopsuffix(cachefile, ".$(Libc.Lib
 # use an Int counter so that nested @time_imports calls all remain open
 const TIMING_IMPORTS = Threads.Atomic{Int}(0)
 
+# loads a precompile cache file, ignoring stale_cachefile tests
+# assuming all depmods are already loaded and everything is valid
 # these return either the array of modules loaded from the path / content given
 # or an Exception that describes why it couldn't be loaded
 # and it reconnects the Base.Docs.META
@@ -1169,6 +1174,15 @@ function _include_from_serialized(pkg::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Union{No
         t_comp_before = cumulative_compile_time_ns()
     end
 
+    for i in 1:length(depmods)
+        dep = depmods[i]
+        dep isa Module && continue
+        _, depkey, depbuild_id = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, UInt128}
+        @assert root_module_exists(depkey)
+        dep = root_module(depkey)
+        depmods[i] = dep
+    end
+
     if ocachepath !== nothing
         @debug "Loading object cache file $ocachepath for $(repr("text/plain", pkg))"
         sv = ccall(:jl_restore_package_image_from_file, Any, (Cstring, Any, Cint, Cstring, Cint), ocachepath, depmods, false, pkg.name, ignore_native)
@@ -1314,9 +1328,6 @@ function insert_extension_triggers(pkg::PkgId)
     path_env_loc = locate_package_env(pkg)
     path_env_loc === nothing && return
     path, env_loc = path_env_loc
-    if path === nothing || env_loc === nothing
-        return
-    end
     insert_extension_triggers(env_loc, pkg)
 end
 
@@ -1637,7 +1648,7 @@ function isprecompiled(pkg::PkgId;
         cachepaths::Vector{String}=Base.find_all_in_cache_path(pkg),
         sourcepath::Union{String,Nothing}=Base.locate_package(pkg),
         flags::CacheFlags=CacheFlags())
-    isnothing(sourcepath) && error("Cannot locate source for $(repr(pkg))")
+    isnothing(sourcepath) && error("Cannot locate source for $(repr("text/plain", pkg))")
     for path_to_try in cachepaths
         staledeps = stale_cachefile(sourcepath, path_to_try, ignore_loaded = true, requested_flags=flags)
         if staledeps === true
@@ -1674,10 +1685,9 @@ function isprecompiled(pkg::PkgId;
     return false
 end
 
-# loads a precompile cache file, after checking stale_cachefile tests
+# search for a precompile cache file to load, after some various checks
 function _tryrequire_from_serialized(modkey::PkgId, build_id::UInt128)
     assert_havelock(require_lock)
-    loaded = nothing
     if root_module_exists(modkey)
         loaded = root_module(modkey)
     else
@@ -1687,7 +1697,7 @@ function _tryrequire_from_serialized(modkey::PkgId, build_id::UInt128)
                 modpath = locate_package(modkey)
                 modpath === nothing && return nothing
                 set_pkgorigin_version_path(modkey, String(modpath))
-                loaded = _require_search_from_serialized(modkey, String(modpath), build_id)
+                loaded = _require_search_from_serialized(modkey, String(modpath), build_id, true)
             finally
                 end_loading(modkey, loaded)
             end
@@ -1697,46 +1707,10 @@ function _tryrequire_from_serialized(modkey::PkgId, build_id::UInt128)
             end
         end
     end
-    if !(loaded isa Module) || PkgId(loaded) != modkey
-        return ErrorException("Required dependency $modkey failed to load from a cache file.")
+    if loaded isa Module && PkgId(loaded) == modkey && module_build_id(loaded) === build_id
+        return loaded
     end
-    return loaded
-end
-
-# loads a precompile cache file, ignoring stale_cachefile tests
-# assuming all depmods are already loaded and everything is valid
-function _tryrequire_from_serialized(modkey::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Union{Nothing, String}, sourcepath::String, depmods::Vector{Any})
-    assert_havelock(require_lock)
-    loaded = nothing
-    if root_module_exists(modkey)
-        loaded = root_module(modkey)
-    else
-        loaded = start_loading(modkey)
-        if loaded === nothing
-            try
-                for i in 1:length(depmods)
-                    dep = depmods[i]
-                    dep isa Module && continue
-                    _, depkey, depbuild_id = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, UInt128}
-                    @assert root_module_exists(depkey)
-                    dep = root_module(depkey)
-                    depmods[i] = dep
-                end
-                set_pkgorigin_version_path(modkey, sourcepath)
-                loaded = _include_from_serialized(modkey, path, ocachepath, depmods)
-            finally
-                end_loading(modkey, loaded)
-            end
-            if loaded isa Module
-                insert_extension_triggers(modkey)
-                run_package_callbacks(modkey)
-            end
-        end
-    end
-    if !(loaded isa Module) || PkgId(loaded) != modkey
-        return ErrorException("Required dependency $modkey failed to load from a cache file.")
-    end
-    return loaded
+    return ErrorException("Required dependency $modkey failed to load from a cache file.")
 end
 
 # returns whether the package is tracked in coverage or malloc tracking based on
@@ -1766,7 +1740,7 @@ function pkg_tracked(includes)
 end
 
 # loads a precompile cache file, ignoring stale_cachefile tests
-# load the best available (non-stale) version of all dependent modules first
+# load all dependent modules first
 function _tryrequire_from_serialized(pkg::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Union{Nothing, String})
     assert_havelock(require_lock)
     local depmodnames
@@ -1808,56 +1782,92 @@ end
 
 # returns `nothing` if require found a precompile cache for this sourcepath, but couldn't load it
 # returns the set of modules restored if the cache load succeeded
-@constprop :none function _require_search_from_serialized(pkg::PkgId, sourcepath::String, build_id::UInt128; reasons=nothing)
+@constprop :none function _require_search_from_serialized(pkg::PkgId, sourcepath::String, build_id::UInt128, stalecheck::Bool; reasons=nothing, DEPOT_PATH::typeof(DEPOT_PATH)=DEPOT_PATH)
     assert_havelock(require_lock)
-    paths = find_all_in_cache_path(pkg)
+    paths = find_all_in_cache_path(pkg, DEPOT_PATH)
+    newdeps = PkgId[]
     for path_to_try in paths::Vector{String}
-        staledeps = stale_cachefile(pkg, build_id, sourcepath, path_to_try; reasons)
+        staledeps = stale_cachefile(pkg, build_id, sourcepath, path_to_try; reasons, stalecheck)
         if staledeps === true
             continue
         end
-        staledeps, ocachefile = staledeps::Tuple{Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
-        # finish checking staledeps module graph
-        for i in 1:length(staledeps)
-            dep = staledeps[i]
-            dep isa Module && continue
-            modpath, modkey, modbuild_id = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, UInt128}
-            modpaths = find_all_in_cache_path(modkey)
-            for modpath_to_try in modpaths
-                modstaledeps = stale_cachefile(modkey, modbuild_id, modpath, modpath_to_try)
-                if modstaledeps === true
-                    continue
-                end
-                modstaledeps, modocachepath = modstaledeps::Tuple{Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
-                staledeps[i] = (modpath, modkey, modpath_to_try, modstaledeps, modocachepath)
-                @goto check_next_dep
-            end
-            @debug "Rejecting cache file $path_to_try because required dependency $modkey with build ID $(UUID(modbuild_id)) is missing from the cache."
-            @goto check_next_path
-            @label check_next_dep
-        end
         try
-            touch(path_to_try) # update timestamp of precompilation file
-        catch ex # file might be read-only and then we fail to update timestamp, which is fine
-            ex isa IOError || rethrow()
-        end
-        # finish loading module graph into staledeps
-        for i in 1:length(staledeps)
-            dep = staledeps[i]
-            dep isa Module && continue
-            modpath, modkey, modcachepath, modstaledeps, modocachepath = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, String, Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
-            dep = _tryrequire_from_serialized(modkey, modcachepath, modocachepath, modpath, modstaledeps)
-            if !isa(dep, Module)
-                @debug "Rejecting cache file $path_to_try because required dependency $modkey failed to load from cache file for $modcachepath." exception=dep
+            staledeps, ocachefile = staledeps::Tuple{Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
+            # finish checking staledeps module graph
+            for i in 1:length(staledeps)
+                dep = staledeps[i]
+                dep isa Module && continue
+                modpath, modkey, modbuild_id = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, UInt128}
+                modpaths = find_all_in_cache_path(modkey, DEPOT_PATH)
+                for modpath_to_try in modpaths
+                    modstaledeps = stale_cachefile(modkey, modbuild_id, modpath, modpath_to_try; stalecheck)
+                    if modstaledeps === true
+                        continue
+                    end
+                    modstaledeps, modocachepath = modstaledeps::Tuple{Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
+                    staledeps[i] = (modpath, modkey, modbuild_id, modpath_to_try, modstaledeps, modocachepath)
+                    @goto check_next_dep
+                end
+                @debug "Rejecting cache file $path_to_try because required dependency $modkey with build ID $(UUID(modbuild_id)) is missing from the cache."
                 @goto check_next_path
+                @label check_next_dep
+            end
+            if stalecheck
+                try
+                    touch(path_to_try) # update timestamp of precompilation file
+                catch ex # file might be read-only and then we fail to update timestamp, which is fine
+                    ex isa IOError || rethrow()
+                end
             end
-            staledeps[i] = dep
+            # finish loading module graph into staledeps
+            for i in 1:length(staledeps)
+                dep = staledeps[i]
+                dep isa Module && continue
+                modpath, modkey, modbuild_id, modcachepath, modstaledeps, modocachepath = dep::Tuple{String, PkgId, UInt128, String, Vector{Any}, Union{Nothing, String}}
+                dep = nothing
+                if root_module_exists(modkey)
+                    dep = root_module(modkey)
+                end
+                while true
+                    if dep isa Module
+                        if PkgId(dep) == modkey && module_build_id(dep) === modbuild_id
+                            break
+                        else
+                            if stalecheck
+                                @debug "Rejecting cache file $path_to_try because module $modkey is already loaded and incompatible."
+                                @goto check_next_path
+                            end
+                        end
+                    end
+                    dep = start_loading(modkey)
+                    if dep === nothing
+                        try
+                            set_pkgorigin_version_path(modkey, modpath)
+                            dep = _include_from_serialized(modkey, modcachepath, modocachepath, modstaledeps)
+                        finally
+                            end_loading(modkey, dep)
+                        end
+                        if !isa(dep, Module)
+                            @debug "Rejecting cache file $path_to_try because required dependency $modkey failed to load from cache file for $modcachepath." exception=dep
+                            @goto check_next_path
+                        else
+                            push!(newdeps, modkey)
+                        end
+                    end
+                end
+                staledeps[i] = dep
+            end
+            restored = _include_from_serialized(pkg, path_to_try, ocachefile, staledeps)
+            isa(restored, Module) && return restored
+            @debug "Deserialization checks failed while attempting to load cache from $path_to_try" exception=restored
+            @label check_next_path
+        finally
+            for modkey in newdeps
+                insert_extension_triggers(modkey)
+                run_package_callbacks(modkey)
+            end
+            empty!(newdeps)
         end
-        restored = _include_from_serialized(pkg, path_to_try, ocachefile, staledeps)
-        isa(restored, Module) && return restored
-        @debug "Deserialization checks failed while attempting to load cache from $path_to_try" exception=restored
-        continue
-        @label check_next_path
     end
     return nothing
 end
@@ -2241,14 +2251,12 @@ function unreference_module(key::PkgId)
 end
 
 # whoever takes the package_locks[pkg] must call this function immediately
-function set_pkgorigin_version_path(pkg::PkgId, path::Union{String,Nothing})
+function set_pkgorigin_version_path(pkg::PkgId, path::String)
     assert_havelock(require_lock)
     pkgorigin = get!(PkgOrigin, pkgorigins, pkg)
-    if path !== nothing
-        # Pkg needs access to the version of packages in the sysimage.
-        if generating_output(#=incremental=#false)
-            pkgorigin.version = get_pkgversion_from_path(joinpath(dirname(path), ".."))
-        end
+    # Pkg needs access to the version of packages in the sysimage.
+    if generating_output(#=incremental=#false)
+        pkgorigin.version = get_pkgversion_from_path(joinpath(dirname(path), ".."))
     end
     pkgorigin.path = path
     nothing
@@ -2281,7 +2289,7 @@ function _require(pkg::PkgId, env=nothing)
         # attempt to load the module file via the precompile cache locations
         if JLOptions().use_compiled_modules != 0
             @label load_from_cache
-            m = _require_search_from_serialized(pkg, path, UInt128(0); reasons)
+            m = _require_search_from_serialized(pkg, path, UInt128(0), true; reasons)
             if m isa Module
                 return m
             end
@@ -2319,7 +2327,7 @@ function _require(pkg::PkgId, env=nothing)
                 # spawn off a new incremental pre-compile task for recursive `require` calls
                 cachefile_or_module = maybe_cachefile_lock(pkg, path) do
                     # double-check now that we have lock
-                    m = _require_search_from_serialized(pkg, path, UInt128(0))
+                    m = _require_search_from_serialized(pkg, path, UInt128(0), true)
                     m isa Module && return m
                     compilecache(pkg, path; reasons)
                 end
@@ -2376,10 +2384,10 @@ function _require(pkg::PkgId, env=nothing)
     return loaded
 end
 
-# Only used from test/precompile.jl
-function _require_from_serialized(uuidkey::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Union{String, Nothing})
+# load a serialized file directly
+function _require_from_serialized(uuidkey::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Union{String, Nothing}, sourcepath::String)
     @lock require_lock begin
-    set_pkgorigin_version_path(uuidkey, nothing)
+    set_pkgorigin_version_path(uuidkey, sourcepath)
     newm = _tryrequire_from_serialized(uuidkey, path, ocachepath)
     newm isa Module || throw(newm)
     insert_extension_triggers(uuidkey)
@@ -2389,6 +2397,58 @@ function _require_from_serialized(uuidkey::PkgId, path::String, ocachepath::Unio
     end
 end
 
+# load a serialized file directly from append_bundled_depot_path for uuidkey without stalechecks
+function require_stdlib(uuidkey::PkgId, ext::Union{Nothing, String}=nothing)
+    @lock require_lock begin
+    if root_module_exists(uuidkey)
+        return loaded_modules[uuidkey]
+    end
+    # first since this is a stdlib, try to look there directly first
+    env = Sys.STDLIB
+    #sourcepath = ""
+    if ext === nothing
+        sourcepath = normpath(env, uuidkey.name, "src", uuidkey.name * ".jl")
+    else
+        sourcepath = find_ext_path(normpath(joinpath(env, uuidkey.name)), ext)
+        uuidkey = PkgId(uuid5(uuidkey.uuid, ext), ext)
+    end
+    #mbypath = manifest_uuid_path(env, uuidkey)
+    #if mbypath isa String
+    #    sourcepath = entry_path(mbypath, uuidkey.name)
+    #else
+    #    # if the user deleted the stdlib folder, we next try using their environment
+    #    sourcepath = locate_package_env(uuidkey)
+    #    if sourcepath !== nothing
+    #        sourcepath, env = sourcepath
+    #    end
+    #end
+    #if sourcepath === nothing
+    #    throw(ArgumentError("""
+    #        Package $(repr("text/plain", uuidkey)) is required but does not seem to be installed.
+    #        """))
+    #end
+    set_pkgorigin_version_path(uuidkey, sourcepath)
+    depot_path = append_bundled_depot_path!(empty(DEPOT_PATH))
+    newm = start_loading(uuidkey)
+    newm === nothing || return newm
+    try
+        newm = _require_search_from_serialized(uuidkey, sourcepath, UInt128(0), false; DEPOT_PATH=depot_path)
+    finally
+        end_loading(uuidkey, newm)
+    end
+    if newm isa Module
+        # After successfully loading, notify downstream consumers
+        insert_extension_triggers(env, uuidkey)
+        run_package_callbacks(uuidkey)
+    else
+        # if the user deleted their bundled depot, next try to load it completely normally
+        newm = _require(uuidkey)
+    end
+    return newm
+    end
+end
+
+
 
 
 # relative-path load
@@ -3393,7 +3453,9 @@ list_reasons(::Nothing) = ""
     return stale_cachefile(PkgId(""), UInt128(0), modpath, cachefile; ignore_loaded, requested_flags, reasons)
 end
 @constprop :none function stale_cachefile(modkey::PkgId, build_id::UInt128, modpath::String, cachefile::String;
-                                            ignore_loaded::Bool = false, requested_flags::CacheFlags=CacheFlags(), reasons::Union{Dict{String,Int},Nothing}=nothing)
+                                          ignore_loaded::Bool=false, requested_flags::CacheFlags=CacheFlags(),
+                                          reasons::Union{Dict{String,Int},Nothing}=nothing, stalecheck::Bool=true)
+    # XXX: this function appears to dl all of the file validation, not just those checks related to stale
     io = open(cachefile, "r")
     try
         checksum = isvalid_cache_header(io)
@@ -3468,7 +3530,7 @@ end
                 M = root_module(req_key)
                 if PkgId(M) == req_key && module_build_id(M) === req_build_id
                     depmods[i] = M
-                elseif ignore_loaded
+                elseif ignore_loaded || !stalecheck
                     # Used by Pkg.precompile given that there it's ok to precompile different versions of loaded packages
                     @goto locate_branch
                 else
@@ -3478,7 +3540,7 @@ end
                 end
             else
                 @label locate_branch
-                path = locate_package(req_key)
+                path = locate_package(req_key) # TODO: add env and/or skip this when stalecheck is false
                 if path === nothing
                     @debug "Rejecting cache file $cachefile because dependency $req_key not found."
                     record_reason(reasons, "dep missing source")
@@ -3491,13 +3553,12 @@ end
         # check if this file is going to provide one of our concrete dependencies
         # or if it provides a version that conflicts with our concrete dependencies
         # or neither
-        skip_check = false
         for (req_key, req_build_id) in _concrete_dependencies
             build_id = get(modules, req_key, UInt64(0))
             if build_id !== UInt64(0)
                 build_id |= UInt128(checksum) << 64
                 if build_id === req_build_id
-                    skip_check = true
+                    stalecheck = false
                     break
                 end
                 @debug "Rejecting cache file $cachefile because it provides the wrong build_id (got $((UUID(build_id)))) for $req_key (want $(UUID(req_build_id)))"
@@ -3507,7 +3568,7 @@ end
         end
 
         # now check if this file's content hash has changed relative to its source files
-        if !skip_check
+        if stalecheck
             if !samefile(includes[1].filename, modpath) && !samefile(fixup_stdlib_path(includes[1].filename), modpath)
                 @debug "Rejecting cache file $cachefile because it is for file $(includes[1].filename) not file $modpath"
                 record_reason(reasons, "wrong source")
diff --git a/base/stream.jl b/base/stream.jl
index 3de61181e978d..3264b8f153677 100644
--- a/base/stream.jl
+++ b/base/stream.jl
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ function init_stdio(handle::Ptr{Cvoid})
     elseif t == UV_TTY
         io = TTY(handle, StatusOpen)
     elseif t == UV_TCP
-        Sockets = require(PkgId(UUID((0x6462fe0b_24de_5631, 0x8697_dd941f90decc)), "Sockets"))
+        Sockets = require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID((0x6462fe0b_24de_5631, 0x8697_dd941f90decc)), "Sockets"))
         io = Sockets.TCPSocket(handle, StatusOpen)
     elseif t == UV_NAMED_PIPE
         io = PipeEndpoint(handle, StatusOpen)
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ function open(h::OS_HANDLE)
     elseif t == UV_TTY
         io = TTY(h)
     elseif t == UV_TCP
-        Sockets = require(PkgId(UUID((0x6462fe0b_24de_5631, 0x8697_dd941f90decc)), "Sockets"))
+        Sockets = require_stdlib(PkgId(UUID((0x6462fe0b_24de_5631, 0x8697_dd941f90decc)), "Sockets"))
         io = Sockets.TCPSocket(h)
     elseif t == UV_NAMED_PIPE
         io = PipeEndpoint(h)
diff --git a/base/util.jl b/base/util.jl
index a26a874c7a461..847d89e895af4 100644
--- a/base/util.jl
+++ b/base/util.jl
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ function runtests(tests = ["all"]; ncores::Int = ceil(Int, Sys.CPU_THREADS / 2),
     catch
         buf = PipeBuffer()
         original_load_path = copy(Base.LOAD_PATH); empty!(Base.LOAD_PATH); pushfirst!(Base.LOAD_PATH, "@stdlib")
-        let InteractiveUtils = Base.require(Base, :InteractiveUtils)
+        let InteractiveUtils = Base.require_stdlib(Base, :InteractiveUtils)
             @invokelatest InteractiveUtils.versioninfo(buf)
         end
         empty!(Base.LOAD_PATH); append!(Base.LOAD_PATH, original_load_path)
diff --git a/stdlib/InteractiveUtils/src/InteractiveUtils.jl b/stdlib/InteractiveUtils/src/InteractiveUtils.jl
index 7391a0d6b2f00..519acfc8a2f33 100644
--- a/stdlib/InteractiveUtils/src/InteractiveUtils.jl
+++ b/stdlib/InteractiveUtils/src/InteractiveUtils.jl
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ export peakflops
 function peakflops(n::Integer=4096; eltype::DataType=Float64, ntrials::Integer=3, parallel::Bool=false)
     # Base.depwarn("`peakflops` has moved to the LinearAlgebra module, " *
     #              "add `using LinearAlgebra` to your imports.", :peakflops)
-    let LinearAlgebra = Base.require(Base.PkgId(
+    let LinearAlgebra = Base.require_stdlib(Base.PkgId(
             Base.UUID((0x37e2e46d_f89d_539d,0xb4ee_838fcccc9c8e)), "LinearAlgebra"))
         return LinearAlgebra.peakflops(n, eltype=eltype, ntrials=ntrials, parallel=parallel)
     end
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ function report_bug(kind)
     if Base.locate_package(BugReportingId) === nothing
         @info "Package `BugReporting` not found - attempting temporary installation"
         # Create a temporary environment and add BugReporting
-        let Pkg = Base.require(Base.PkgId(
+        let Pkg = Base.require_stdlib(Base.PkgId(
             Base.UUID((0x44cfe95a_1eb2_52ea,0xb672_e2afdf69b78f)), "Pkg"))
             mktempdir() do tmp
                 old_load_path = copy(LOAD_PATH)
diff --git a/stdlib/LinearAlgebra/src/LinearAlgebra.jl b/stdlib/LinearAlgebra/src/LinearAlgebra.jl
index 793775992fdea..acacf4b20cfc7 100644
--- a/stdlib/LinearAlgebra/src/LinearAlgebra.jl
+++ b/stdlib/LinearAlgebra/src/LinearAlgebra.jl
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ function peakflops(n::Integer=4096; eltype::DataType=Float64, ntrials::Integer=3
     end
 
     if parallel
-        let Distributed = Base.require(Base.PkgId(
+        let Distributed = Base.require_stdlib(Base.PkgId(
                 Base.UUID((0x8ba89e20_285c_5b6f, 0x9357_94700520ee1b)), "Distributed"))
             nworkers = @invokelatest Distributed.nworkers()
             results = @invokelatest Distributed.pmap(peakflops, fill(n, nworkers))
diff --git a/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl b/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
index f39aed51cebaf..840e6daaf1909 100644
--- a/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
+++ b/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
@@ -1188,25 +1188,23 @@ function setup_interface(
         ']' => function (s::MIState,o...)
             if isempty(s) || position(LineEdit.buffer(s)) == 0
                 pkgid = Base.PkgId(Base.UUID("44cfe95a-1eb2-52ea-b672-e2afdf69b78f"), "Pkg")
-                if Base.locate_package(pkgid) !== nothing # Only try load Pkg if we can find it
-                    Pkg = Base.require(pkgid)
-                    REPLExt = Base.get_extension(Pkg, :REPLExt)
-                    # Pkg should have loaded its REPL mode by now, let's find it so we can transition to it.
-                    pkg_mode = nothing
+                REPLExt = Base.require_stdlib(pkgid, "REPLExt")
+                pkg_mode = nothing
+                if REPLExt isa Module && isdefined(REPLExt, :PkgCompletionProvider)
                     for mode in repl.interface.modes
                         if mode isa LineEdit.Prompt && mode.complete isa REPLExt.PkgCompletionProvider
                             pkg_mode = mode
                             break
                         end
                     end
-                    # TODO: Cache the `pkg_mode`?
-                    if pkg_mode !== nothing
-                        buf = copy(LineEdit.buffer(s))
-                        transition(s, pkg_mode) do
-                            LineEdit.state(s, pkg_mode).input_buffer = buf
-                        end
-                        return
+                end
+                # TODO: Cache the `pkg_mode`?
+                if pkg_mode !== nothing
+                    buf = copy(LineEdit.buffer(s))
+                    transition(s, pkg_mode) do
+                        LineEdit.state(s, pkg_mode).input_buffer = buf
                     end
+                    return
                 end
             end
             edit_insert(s, ']')
diff --git a/test/precompile.jl b/test/precompile.jl
index 9a035997ce9f0..ce7e9e77217b0 100644
--- a/test/precompile.jl
+++ b/test/precompile.jl
@@ -407,11 +407,11 @@ precompile_test_harness(false) do dir
         else
             ocachefile = nothing
         end
-            # use _require_from_serialized to ensure that the test fails if
-            # the module doesn't reload from the image:
+        # use _require_from_serialized to ensure that the test fails if
+        # the module doesn't reload from the image:
         @test_warn "@ccallable was already defined for this method name" begin
             @test_logs (:warn, "Replacing module `$Foo_module`") begin
-                m = Base._require_from_serialized(Base.PkgId(Foo), cachefile, ocachefile)
+                m = Base._require_from_serialized(Base.PkgId(Foo), cachefile, ocachefile, Foo_file)
                 @test isa(m, Module)
             end
         end