diff --git a/kernel/vmlinux.nix b/kernel/vmlinux.nix
index 6851d4d..e0aa377 100644
--- a/kernel/vmlinux.nix
+++ b/kernel/vmlinux.nix
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   KBUILD_BUILD_HOST = "liminix.builder";
   buildPhase = ''
-    make -C ${tree} vmlinux
+    make -C ${tree} vmlinux modules_prepare
   '';
 
   installPhase = ''
diff --git a/modules/base.nix b/modules/base.nix
index a42e08d..b11a01a 100644
--- a/modules/base.nix
+++ b/modules/base.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ in {
         IKCONFIG = "y";
         IKCONFIG_PROC = "y";
         PROC_FS = "y";
+
+        MODULES = "y";
+
         # s6-linux-init mounts this on /dev
         DEVTMPFS = "y";
         # some or all of these may be fix for "tmpfs: Unknown parameter 'mode'" error