$ head -99 quicklisp/local-projects/foo/*
==> quicklisp/local-projects/foo/README <==
Seeking to uncover the mystery of (ql:quickload "foo") #| ?? System "foo" not found |#

==> quicklisp/local-projects/foo/foo.asd <==
(asdf:defsystem #:foo
  :description "Foo local package to debug quickload."
  :components ((:file "foo")))

==> quicklisp/local-projects/foo/foo.lisp <==
(eval-when (:compile-toplevel :load-toplevel :execute)
  (format *debug-io* "~&Foo~&")
  (finish-output *debug-io*))

$ ccl --no-init --load quicklisp/setup.lisp --eval '(ql:quickload "foo")'
> Error: System "foo" not found
> While executing: (:INTERNAL QUICKLISP-CLIENT::RECURSE QUICKLISP-CLIENT::COMPUTE-LOAD-STRATEGY), in process listener(1).
> Type :GO to continue, :POP to abort, :R for a list of available restarts.
> If continued: Try again
> Type :? for other options.
1 >