diff --git a/spl/std.spl b/spl/std.spl
index 152633f..06a9215 100644
--- a/spl/std.spl
+++ b/spl/std.spl
@@ -559,6 +559,8 @@ func cache { ... | with arg-amt id body ;
     result
 }
 
+func panic-handler { | "to be overridden"; }
+
 def do-not-dump 0 =do-not-dump
 func handle-panic { | with msg trace ;
     program-name dup if {
@@ -569,6 +571,7 @@ func handle-panic { | with msg trace ;
     &println trace:foreach 
     "\nPanic message:" println
     "    " print msg println
+    panic-handler
     def map env =map
     "SPL_PANIC_DUMP" env:get dup if {
         "Dumping because SPL_PANIC_DUMP is set." println