diff --git a/src/reader.rls b/src/reader.rls
index 0ff8269..c605879 100644
--- a/src/reader.rls
+++ b/src/reader.rls
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 (load "hash-table.rls")
 
 (define s:symbol (struct-type 'a))
-(define *symbols* '())
+(define *symbols* (make-hash-table))
 
 (define (make-symbol name)
   (let ([sym (make-struct s:symbol)])
@@ -30,15 +30,11 @@
 (define (memq? val lst)
   (and (memq val lst) #t))
 
-(define (find-symbol name)
-  (findf (lambda (x) (byte-string= (symbol-name x) name)) *symbols*))
-
 (define (intern name)
-  (let ([sym (find-symbol name)])
-    (or sym
-        (let ([sym (make-symbol name)])
-          (set! *symbols* (cons sym *symbols*))
-          sym))))
+  (or (hash-table-lookup *symbols* name)
+      (let ([sym (make-symbol name)])
+        (hash-table-insert *symbols* name sym)
+        sym)))
 
 (define (read-from-fd fd)
   (let/cc toplevel-return