diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
index c83df456a717..467ea80d879c 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ rec {
     fi
 
     # Set up automatic kernel module loading.
-    export MODULE_DIR=${kernel}/lib/modules/
+    export MODULE_DIR=${modulesClosure}/lib/modules/
     ${coreutils}/bin/cat <<EOF > /run/modprobe
     #! ${bash}/bin/sh
     export MODULE_DIR=$MODULE_DIR