The value of *compile-file-pathname* must always be a pathname or nil. The value of *compile-file-truename* must always be a physical pathname or nil.
nil.
During a call to compile-file,
*compile-file-pathname* is bound to
the pathname denoted by the first argument to compile-file,
merged against the defaults;
that is, it is bound to (pathname (merge-pathnames input-file)).
During the same time interval,
*compile-file-truename* is bound to
the truename of the file being compiled.
At other times, the value of these variables is nil.
If a break loop is entered while compile-file is ongoing, it is implementation-dependent whether these variables retain the values they had just prior to entering the break loop or whether they are bound to nil.
The consequences are unspecified if an attempt is made to assign or bind either of these variables.
The file system.