diff --git a/implementations/python/preserves/schema.py b/implementations/python/preserves/schema.py
index 5baae6b..08576ce 100644
--- a/implementations/python/preserves/schema.py
+++ b/implementations/python/preserves/schema.py
@@ -376,32 +376,36 @@ class Compiler:
             c._set_schema(self.root, module_path, n, d, None, None)
             ns[n] = c
 
+def load_schema_file(filename):
+    c = Compiler()
+    c.load(filename)
+    return c.root
+
 # a decorator
 def extend(cls):
     return lambda f: setattr(cls, f.__name__, f)
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    c = Compiler()
-    schema_bin_filename = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent / '../../../schema/schema.bin'
-    c.load(schema_bin_filename)
-    with open(schema_bin_filename, 'rb') as f:
-        x = Decoder(f.read()).next()
-    print(c.root.schema.Schema.decode(x))
+__metaschema_filename = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent / '../../../schema/schema.bin'
+meta = load_schema_file(__metaschema_filename).schema
 
-    @extend(c.root.schema.Schema)
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    with open(__metaschema_filename, 'rb') as f:
+        x = Decoder(f.read()).next()
+    print(meta.Schema.decode(x))
+
+    @extend(meta.Schema)
     def f(self, x):
         return ['yay', self.embeddedType, x]
-    print(c.root.schema.Schema.decode(x).f(123))
+    print(meta.Schema.decode(x).f(123))
     print(f)
 
     print()
 
-    d = Compiler()
     path_bin_filename = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent / '../../../path/path.bin'
-    d.load(path_bin_filename)
+    path = load_schema_file(path_bin_filename).path
     with open(path_bin_filename, 'rb') as f:
         x = Decoder(f.read()).next()
-    print(c.root.schema.Schema.decode(x))
-    print(c.root.schema.Schema.decode(x) == c.root.schema.Schema.decode(x))
+    print(meta.Schema.decode(x))
+    print(meta.Schema.decode(x) == meta.Schema.decode(x))
     print()
-    print(d.root)
+    print(path)