Erlang app fails to start with {compile_forms,error} from lager

Question

When I attempt a _rel/bin/application_name console, I get this:

{"Kernel pid terminated",application_controller,"
 {application_start_failure,lager,
  {bad_return,{{lager_app,start,[normal,[]]},
   {'EXIT',{{compile_forms,error},[
    {glc_code,compile_forms,2,[{file,\"src/glc_code.erl\"},{line,509}]},
    {glc_code,compile,2,[{file,\"src/glc_code.erl\"},{line,51}]},
    {glc,compile,4,[{file,\"src/glc.erl\"},{line,205}]},
    {lager_util,trace_filter,2,[{file,\"src/lager_util.erl\"},{line,374}]},
    {lager_app,start,2,[{file,\"src/lager_app.erl\"},{line,221}]},
    {application_master,start_it_old,4,[{file,\"application_master.erl\"},{line,272}]}]}}}}}"}

(not sure what the bad_return is, as this app used to start earlier)

My lager.app.src has both syntax_tools and compiler included (alongwith goldrush, stdlib and kernel) for applications.

However, when I start lager from a vanilla erl prompt, lager starts after I've started all of its dependencies.

Can I get some help with this? I'm not sure what I'm not seeing/missing. Thanks very much in anticipation!