diff --git a/packages/@glimmer/runtime/index.ts b/packages/@glimmer/runtime/index.ts
index 617edd8ae30..faf4dc34f35 100644
--- a/packages/@glimmer/runtime/index.ts
+++ b/packages/@glimmer/runtime/index.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-/**
- * @deprecated use RichIteratorResult<Tick, Return> or TemplateIterator instead
- */
-import './lib/bootstrap';
-
 import type { RichIteratorResult } from '@glimmer/interfaces';
 
 export { clear, ConcreteBounds, CursorImpl } from './lib/bounds';
diff --git a/packages/@glimmer/runtime/lib/vm/low-level.ts b/packages/@glimmer/runtime/lib/vm/low-level.ts
index b1a9d269bbf..a817f25548a 100644
--- a/packages/@glimmer/runtime/lib/vm/low-level.ts
+++ b/packages/@glimmer/runtime/lib/vm/low-level.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ import { $fp, $pc, $ra, $sp } from '@glimmer/vm/lib/registers';
 import type { DebugState } from '../opcodes';
 import type { VM } from './append';
 
+// Loading the VM is what creates the demand for opcode handlers — its
+// `evaluateSyscall` calls `APPEND_OPCODES.evaluate(...)`. Pull bootstrap in
+// here (rather than at the package barrel) so consumers using deep imports
+// still get every opcode handler registered before the VM runs.
+import '../bootstrap';
 import { APPEND_OPCODES } from '../opcodes';
 
 export type LowLevelRegisters = [$pc: number, $ra: number, $sp: number, $fp: number];