Thanks for the replies, guys. Broquaint's example makes clear what the problem is. Code occurring outside of any sub just gets executed in sequence -- the package statement doesn't alter that sequence of execution.

Things which *do* alter that sequence include reordering the code (broquaint), forcing its early execution with BEGIN (merlyn), or pulling it in early with require (my initial example).

FWIW, I'd read about the $a/$b trap on previous visits here. Guess that sort of thing doesn't sink in until you get burned by actually doing it -- at least that's how I've learned just about everything else :(

--Dinosaur