diff --git a/sys/boot/ficl/words.c b/sys/boot/ficl/words.c
index 73908cccdfb..ed9f087b24f 100644
--- a/sys/boot/ficl/words.c
+++ b/sys/boot/ficl/words.c
@@ -2306,6 +2306,8 @@ static void create(FICL_VM *pVM)
     FICL_DICT *dp = ficlGetDict();
     STRINGINFO si = vmGetWord(pVM);
 
+    dictCheckThreshold(dp);
+
     dictAppendWord2(dp, si, createParen, FW_DEFAULT);
     dictAllotCells(dp, 1);
     return;