diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 435d09259ce99..5242739f8f846 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ jobs:
     timeout-minutes: 60
     env:
       TOX_SKIP_MISSING_INTERPRETERS: False
+      VIRTUALENV_SYSTEM_SITE_PACKAGES: ${{ matrix.test_mypyc && 1 || 0 }}
       # Rich (pip) -- Disable color for windows + pytest
       FORCE_COLOR: ${{ !(startsWith(matrix.os, 'windows-') && startsWith(matrix.toxenv, 'py')) && 1 || 0 }}
       # Tox
@@ -209,8 +210,10 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Compiled with mypyc
       if: ${{ matrix.test_mypyc }}
+      # Use local version of librt during self-compilation in tests.
       run: |
         pip install -r test-requirements.txt
+        pip install -U mypyc/lib-rt
         CC=clang MYPYC_OPT_LEVEL=0 MYPY_USE_MYPYC=1 pip install -e .
 
     - name: Setup tox environment
diff --git a/mypy/cache.py b/mypy/cache.py
index 0adc7affb8cb4..c4b74230c4c28 100644
--- a/mypy/cache.py
+++ b/mypy/cache.py
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ def read(cls, data: ReadBuffer, data_file: str) -> CacheMeta | None:
 # Always use this type alias to refer to type tags.
 Tag = u8
 
+# Note: all tags should be kept in sync with lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.c.
 # Primitives.
 LITERAL_FALSE: Final[Tag] = 0
 LITERAL_TRUE: Final[Tag] = 1
@@ -264,6 +265,7 @@ def read(cls, data: ReadBuffer, data_file: str) -> CacheMeta | None:
 # Four integers representing source file (line, column) range.
 LOCATION: Final[Tag] = 152
 
+RESERVED: Final[Tag] = 254
 END_TAG: Final[Tag] = 255
 
 
diff --git a/mypy/nodes.py b/mypy/nodes.py
index 37ea4d3b0d561..dda01d64493fc 100644
--- a/mypy/nodes.py
+++ b/mypy/nodes.py
@@ -4930,7 +4930,20 @@ def read(cls, data: ReadBuffer) -> SymbolTableNode:
         sym.plugin_generated = read_bool(data)
         cross_ref = read_str_opt(data)
         if cross_ref is None:
-            sym.node = read_symbol(data)
+            tag = read_tag(data)
+            if tag == TYPE_INFO:
+                sym.node = TypeInfo.read(data)
+            else:
+                # This logic is temporary, to make sure we don't introduce
+                # regressions until we have proper lazy deserialization.
+                # It has negligible performance impact.
+                try:
+                    from librt.internal import extract_symbol
+                except ImportError:
+                    sym.node = read_symbol(data, tag)
+                else:
+                    node_bytes = extract_symbol(data)
+                    sym.node = read_symbol(ReadBuffer(node_bytes), tag)
         else:
             sym.cross_ref = cross_ref
         assert read_tag(data) == END_TAG
@@ -5333,8 +5346,7 @@ def local_definitions(
 TSTRING_EXPR: Final[Tag] = 229
 
 
-def read_symbol(data: ReadBuffer) -> SymbolNode:
-    tag = read_tag(data)
+def read_symbol(data: ReadBuffer, tag: Tag) -> SymbolNode:
     # The branches here are ordered manually by type "popularity".
     if tag == VAR:
         return Var.read(data)
@@ -5342,8 +5354,6 @@ def read_symbol(data: ReadBuffer) -> SymbolNode:
         return FuncDef.read(data)
     if tag == DECORATOR:
         return Decorator.read(data)
-    if tag == TYPE_INFO:
-        return TypeInfo.read(data)
     if tag == OVERLOADED_FUNC_DEF:
         return OverloadedFuncDef.read(data)
     if tag == TYPE_VAR_EXPR:
diff --git a/mypy/typeshed/stubs/librt/librt/internal.pyi b/mypy/typeshed/stubs/librt/librt/internal.pyi
index 72ed5a7ee76f4..8e597c4edbd70 100644
--- a/mypy/typeshed/stubs/librt/librt/internal.pyi
+++ b/mypy/typeshed/stubs/librt/librt/internal.pyi
@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ def read_int(data: ReadBuffer, /) -> int: ...
 def write_tag(data: WriteBuffer, value: u8, /) -> None: ...
 def read_tag(data: ReadBuffer, /) -> u8: ...
 def cache_version() -> u8: ...
+def extract_symbol(data: ReadBuffer, /) -> bytes: ...
diff --git a/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.c b/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.c
index ca8bc8bbea99a..3a301221e89f3 100644
--- a/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.c
+++ b/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.c
@@ -920,6 +920,273 @@ write_tag(PyObject *self, PyObject *const *args, size_t nargs) {
     return Py_None;
 }
 
+// All tags must be kept in sync with cache.py, nodes.py, and types.py.
+// Primitive types.
+#define LITERAL_FALSE 0
+#define LITERAL_TRUE 1
+#define LITERAL_NONE 2
+#define LITERAL_INT 3
+#define LITERAL_STR 4
+#define LITERAL_BYTES 5
+#define LITERAL_FLOAT 6
+#define LITERAL_COMPLEX 7
+
+// Supported builtin collections.
+#define LIST_GEN 20
+#define LIST_INT 21
+#define LIST_STR 22
+#define LIST_BYTES 23
+#define TUPLE_GEN 24
+#define DICT_STR_GEN 30
+
+// This is the smallest custom class tag.
+#define MYPY_FILE 50
+
+// Instance class has special formats.
+#define INSTANCE 80
+#define INSTANCE_SIMPLE 81
+#define INSTANCE_GENERIC 82
+#define INSTANCE_STR 83
+#define INSTANCE_FUNCTION 84
+#define INSTANCE_INT 85
+#define INSTANCE_BOOL 86
+#define INSTANCE_OBJECT 87
+
+#define RESERVED 254
+#define END_TAG 255
+
+// Forward declaration.
+static char _skip_object(PyObject *data, uint8_t tag);
+
+static inline char
+_skip(PyObject *data, Py_ssize_t size) {
+    // We are careful about error conditions, so all
+    // _skip_xxx() functions can return an error value.
+    _CHECK_READ(data, size, CPY_NONE_ERROR)
+    ((ReadBufferObject *)data)->ptr += size;
+    return CPY_NONE;
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_short_int(PyObject *data, uint8_t first) {
+    if ((first & TWO_BYTES_INT_BIT) == 0)
+       return CPY_NONE;
+    if ((first & FOUR_BYTES_INT_BIT) == 0)
+        return _skip(data, 1);
+    return _skip(data, 3);
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_int(PyObject *data) {
+    _CHECK_READ(data, 1, CPY_NONE_ERROR)
+
+    uint8_t first;
+    _READ(&first, data, uint8_t);
+    if (likely(first != LONG_INT_TRAILER)) {
+        return _skip_short_int(data, first);
+    }
+
+    _CHECK_READ(data, 1, CPY_NONE_ERROR)
+    _READ(&first, data, uint8_t);
+    Py_ssize_t size_and_sign = _read_short_int(data, first);
+    if (size_and_sign == CPY_INT_TAG)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    if ((Py_ssize_t)size_and_sign < 0) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "invalid int data");
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    Py_ssize_t size = size_and_sign >> 2;
+    return _skip(data, size);
+}
+
+// This is essentially a wrapper around _read_short_int() that makes
+// sure the result is valid.
+static inline Py_ssize_t
+_read_size(PyObject *data) {
+    _CHECK_READ(data, 1, -1)
+    uint8_t first;
+    _READ(&first, data, uint8_t);
+    // We actually allow serializing lists/dicts with over 4 billion items,
+    // but we don't really need to, fail with ValueError just in case.
+    if (unlikely(first == LONG_INT_TRAILER)) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "unsupported size");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    CPyTagged tagged_size = _read_short_int(data, first);
+    if (tagged_size == CPY_INT_TAG)
+        return -1;
+    if ((Py_ssize_t)tagged_size < 0) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "invalid size");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    Py_ssize_t size = tagged_size >> 1;
+    return size;
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_str_bytes(PyObject *data) {
+    Py_ssize_t size = _read_size(data);
+    if (size < 0)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    return _skip(data, size);
+}
+
+// List/dict logic should be kept in sync with mypy/cache.py
+static inline char
+_skip_list_gen(PyObject *data) {
+    Py_ssize_t size = _read_size(data);
+    if (size < 0)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+        uint8_t tag = read_tag_internal(data);
+        if (unlikely(tag == CPY_LL_UINT_ERROR && PyErr_Occurred())) {
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+        }
+        if (unlikely(_skip_object(data, tag) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    return CPY_NONE;
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_list_int(PyObject *data) {
+    Py_ssize_t size = _read_size(data);
+    if (size < 0)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+        if (unlikely(_skip_int(data) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    return CPY_NONE;
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_list_str_bytes(PyObject *data) {
+    Py_ssize_t size = _read_size(data);
+    if (size < 0)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+        if (unlikely(_skip_str_bytes(data) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    return CPY_NONE;
+}
+
+static inline char
+_skip_dict_str_gen(PyObject *data) {
+    Py_ssize_t size = _read_size(data);
+    if (size < 0)
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+        // Bare key followed by tagged value.
+        if (unlikely(_skip_str_bytes(data) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+        uint8_t tag = read_tag_internal(data);
+        if (unlikely(tag == CPY_LL_UINT_ERROR && PyErr_Occurred())) {
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+        }
+        if (unlikely(_skip_object(data, tag) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    return CPY_NONE;
+}
+
+// Similar to mypy/cache.py, the convention is that the caller reads
+// the opening tag for custom classes.
+static inline char
+_skip_class(PyObject *data) {
+    while (1) {
+        uint8_t tag = read_tag_internal(data);
+        if (unlikely(tag == CPY_LL_UINT_ERROR && PyErr_Occurred())) {
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+        }
+        if (tag == END_TAG) {
+            return CPY_NONE;
+        }
+        if (unlikely(_skip_object(data, tag) == CPY_NONE_ERROR)) {
+            return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Instance has special compact layout (as an important optimization).
+static inline char
+_skip_instance(PyObject *data) {
+    uint8_t second_tag = read_tag_internal(data);
+    if (unlikely(second_tag == CPY_LL_UINT_ERROR && PyErr_Occurred())) {
+        return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+    }
+    if (second_tag >= INSTANCE_STR && second_tag <= INSTANCE_OBJECT) {
+        return CPY_NONE;
+    }
+    if (second_tag == INSTANCE_SIMPLE) {
+        return _skip_str_bytes(data);
+    }
+    if (second_tag == INSTANCE_GENERIC) {
+        return _skip_class(data);
+    }
+    PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError, "Unexpected instance tag: %d", second_tag);
+    return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+}
+
+// This is the main dispatch point. Branches are ordered manually
+// based roughly on frequency in self-check.
+static char
+_skip_object(PyObject *data, uint8_t tag) {
+    if (tag == LITERAL_STR || tag == LITERAL_BYTES)
+        return _skip_str_bytes(data);
+    if (tag == LITERAL_NONE || tag == LITERAL_FALSE || tag == LITERAL_TRUE)
+        return CPY_NONE;
+    if (tag == LIST_GEN || tag == TUPLE_GEN)
+        return _skip_list_gen(data);
+    if (tag == LITERAL_INT)
+        return _skip_int(data);
+    if (tag == INSTANCE)
+        return _skip_instance(data);
+    if (tag > MYPY_FILE && tag < RESERVED)
+        return _skip_class(data);
+    if (tag == LIST_INT)
+        return _skip_list_int(data);
+    if (tag == LIST_STR || tag == LIST_BYTES)
+        return _skip_list_str_bytes(data);
+    if (tag == DICT_STR_GEN)
+        return _skip_dict_str_gen(data);
+    if (tag == LITERAL_FLOAT)
+        return _skip(data, 8);
+    if (tag == LITERAL_COMPLEX)
+        return _skip(data, 16);
+    PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError, "Unsupported tag: %d", tag);
+    return CPY_NONE_ERROR;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+extract_symbol_internal(PyObject *data) {
+    char *ptr = ((ReadBufferObject *)data)->ptr;
+    if (unlikely(_skip_class(data) == CPY_NONE_ERROR))
+        return NULL;
+    Py_ssize_t size = ((ReadBufferObject *)data)->ptr - ptr;
+    PyObject *res = PyBytes_FromStringAndSize(ptr, size);
+    if (unlikely(res == NULL))
+        return NULL;
+    return res;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+extract_symbol(PyObject *self, PyObject *const *args, size_t nargs) {
+    if (unlikely(nargs != 1)) {
+        PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+                     "extract_symbol() takes exactly 1 argument (%zu given)", nargs);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    PyObject *data = args[0];
+    _CHECK_READ_BUFFER(data, NULL)
+    return extract_symbol_internal(data);
+}
+
 static uint8_t
 cache_version_internal(void) {
     return 0;
@@ -954,6 +1221,7 @@ static PyMethodDef librt_internal_module_methods[] = {
     {"write_tag", (PyCFunction)write_tag, METH_FASTCALL, PyDoc_STR("write a short int")},
     {"read_tag", (PyCFunction)read_tag, METH_FASTCALL, PyDoc_STR("read a short int")},
     {"cache_version", (PyCFunction)cache_version, METH_NOARGS, PyDoc_STR("cache format version")},
+    {"extract_symbol", (PyCFunction)extract_symbol, METH_FASTCALL, PyDoc_STR("extract bytes for a mypy symbol")},
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
@@ -1005,6 +1273,7 @@ librt_internal_module_exec(PyObject *m)
         (void *)ReadBuffer_type_internal,
         (void *)WriteBuffer_type_internal,
         (void *)NativeInternal_API_Version,
+        (void *)extract_symbol_internal
     };
     PyObject *c_api_object = PyCapsule_New((void *)NativeInternal_API, "librt.internal._C_API", NULL);
     if (PyModule_Add(m, "_C_API", c_api_object) < 0) {
diff --git a/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.h b/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.h
index 1b325b20d95bb..e6d85901cabd9 100644
--- a/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.h
+++ b/mypyc/lib-rt/internal/librt_internal.h
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@
 // API version -- more recent versions must maintain backward compatibility, i.e.
 // we can add new features but not remove or change existing features (unless
 // ABI version is changed, but see the comment above).
- #define LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_VERSION 0
+ #define LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_VERSION 1
 
 // Number of functions in the capsule API. If you add a new function, also increase
 // LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_VERSION.
-#define LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_LEN 20
+#define LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_LEN 21
 
 #ifdef LIBRT_INTERNAL_MODULE
 
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ static uint8_t cache_version_internal(void);
 static PyTypeObject *ReadBuffer_type_internal(void);
 static PyTypeObject *WriteBuffer_type_internal(void);
 static int NativeInternal_API_Version(void);
+static PyObject *extract_symbol_internal(PyObject *data);
 
 #else
 
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ static void *NativeInternal_API[LIBRT_INTERNAL_API_LEN];
 #define ReadBuffer_type_internal (*(PyTypeObject* (*)(void)) NativeInternal_API[17])
 #define WriteBuffer_type_internal (*(PyTypeObject* (*)(void)) NativeInternal_API[18])
 #define NativeInternal_API_Version (*(int (*)(void)) NativeInternal_API[19])
+#define extract_symbol_internal (*(PyObject* (*)(PyObject *source)) NativeInternal_API[20])
 
 static int
 import_librt_internal(void)
diff --git a/mypyc/primitives/misc_ops.py b/mypyc/primitives/misc_ops.py
index ae2cfdf43e9c5..6be74baff3d0b 100644
--- a/mypyc/primitives/misc_ops.py
+++ b/mypyc/primitives/misc_ops.py
@@ -503,6 +503,14 @@
     error_kind=ERR_NEVER,
 )
 
+function_op(
+    name="librt.internal.extract_symbol",
+    arg_types=[object_rprimitive],
+    return_type=bytes_rprimitive,
+    c_function_name="extract_symbol_internal",
+    error_kind=ERR_MAGIC,
+)
+
 function_op(
     name="librt.base64.b64encode",
     arg_types=[bytes_rprimitive],