diff --git a/lib/lua/vm/stdlib.ex b/lib/lua/vm/stdlib.ex
index 79c7b64..6c5e423 100644
--- a/lib/lua/vm/stdlib.ex
+++ b/lib/lua/vm/stdlib.ex
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ defmodule Lua.VM.Stdlib do
     |> State.register_function("setmetatable", &lua_setmetatable/2)
     |> State.register_function("getmetatable", &lua_getmetatable/2)
     |> State.register_function("select", &lua_select/2)
+    |> State.register_function("load", &lua_load/2)
     |> State.register_function("require", &lua_require/2)
     |> install_package_table()
     |> Lua.VM.Stdlib.String.install()
@@ -332,6 +333,45 @@ defmodule Lua.VM.Stdlib do
     raise ArgumentError.value_expected("select", 1)
   end
 
+  # load(chunk, chunkname, mode, env) — loads a Lua chunk
+  # chunk can be a string
+  # Returns compiled function or (nil, error message)
+  defp lua_load([chunk | _rest], state) when is_binary(chunk) do
+    case Lua.Parser.parse(chunk) do
+      {:ok, ast} ->
+        case Lua.Compiler.compile(ast) do
+          {:ok, prototype} ->
+            # Create a closure from the compiled prototype
+            closure = {:lua_closure, prototype, %{}}
+            {[closure], state}
+
+          {:error, reason} ->
+            error_msg = format_compile_error(reason)
+            {[nil, error_msg], state}
+        end
+
+      {:error, reason} ->
+        error_msg = format_parse_error(reason)
+        {[nil, error_msg], state}
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp lua_load([non_string | _], state) when not is_binary(non_string) do
+    # For now, only support string chunks
+    # TODO: Support function chunks and reader functions
+    {[nil, "load only supports string chunks currently"], state}
+  end
+
+  defp lua_load([], _state) do
+    raise ArgumentError.value_expected("load", 1)
+  end
+
+  defp format_parse_error(error) when is_binary(error), do: error
+  defp format_parse_error(error), do: inspect(error)
+
+  defp format_compile_error(error) when is_binary(error), do: error
+  defp format_compile_error(error), do: inspect(error)
+
   # setmetatable(table, metatable) — sets the metatable for a table
   defp lua_setmetatable([{:tref, _} = tref, metatable], state) do
     # Validate metatable is nil or a table
diff --git a/test/lua_test.exs b/test/lua_test.exs
index e15569e..3c05606 100644
--- a/test/lua_test.exs
+++ b/test/lua_test.exs
@@ -1557,6 +1557,51 @@ defmodule LuaTest do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "load function" do
+    setup do
+      %{lua: Lua.new(sandboxed: [])}
+    end
+
+    test "load compiles and returns a function", %{lua: lua} do
+      code = """
+      f = load("return 1 + 2")
+      return f()
+      """
+
+      assert {[3], _} = Lua.eval!(lua, code)
+    end
+
+    test "load with syntax error returns nil", %{lua: lua} do
+      # Note: Multi-assignment and table constructors don't capture multiple return values yet
+      # So we just test that load returns nil on error
+      code = """
+      f = load("return 1 +")
+      return f == nil
+      """
+
+      assert {[true], _} = Lua.eval!(lua, code)
+    end
+
+    test "loaded function can access upvalues", %{lua: lua} do
+      code = """
+      x = 10
+      f = load("return x + 5")
+      return f()
+      """
+
+      assert {[15], _} = Lua.eval!(lua, code)
+    end
+
+    test "load can compile complex code", %{lua: lua} do
+      code = """
+      f = load("function add(a, b) return a + b end; return add(3, 4)")
+      return f()
+      """
+
+      assert {[7], _} = Lua.eval!(lua, code)
+    end
+  end
+
   defp test_file(name) do
     Path.join(["test", "fixtures", name])
   end