diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation.rb
index c3599fa85f..a475a19a87 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation.rb
@@ -626,7 +626,10 @@ def delete_by(*args)
     #
     #   Post.where(published: true).load # => #<ActiveRecord::Relation>
     def load(&block)
-      exec_queries(&block) unless loaded?
+      unless loaded?
+        @records = exec_queries(&block)
+        @loaded = true
+      end
 
       self
     end
@@ -809,7 +812,7 @@ def _increment_attribute(attribute, value = 1)
 
       def exec_queries(&block)
         skip_query_cache_if_necessary do
-          @records =
+          records =
             if where_clause.contradiction?
               []
             elsif eager_loading?
@@ -826,12 +829,11 @@ def exec_queries(&block)
               klass.find_by_sql(arel, &block).freeze
             end
 
-          preload_associations(@records) unless skip_preloading_value
+          preload_associations(records) unless skip_preloading_value
 
-          @records.each(&:readonly!) if readonly_value
+          records.each(&:readonly!) if readonly_value
 
-          @loaded = true
-          @records
+          records
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/record_fetch_warning.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/record_fetch_warning.rb
index a7d07d23e1..f3a7658549 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/record_fetch_warning.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/record_fetch_warning.rb
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ module RecordFetchWarning
       def exec_queries
         QueryRegistry.reset
 
-        super.tap do
+        super.tap do |records|
           if logger && warn_on_records_fetched_greater_than
-            if @records.length > warn_on_records_fetched_greater_than
-              logger.warn "Query fetched #{@records.size} #{@klass} records: #{QueryRegistry.queries.join(";")}"
+            if records.length > warn_on_records_fetched_greater_than
+              logger.warn "Query fetched #{records.size} #{@klass} records: #{QueryRegistry.queries.join(";")}"
             end
           end
         end