-(defvar *zone-output-path* *default-pathname-defaults*
- "Pathname defaults to merge into output files.")
+(defvar *zone-output-path* nil
+ "Pathname defaults to merge into output files.
+
+ If this is nil then use the prevailing `*default-pathname-defaults*'.
+ This is not the same as capturing the `*default-pathname-defaults*' from
+ load time.")