diff --git a/collects/compiler/commands/exe.rkt b/collects/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
index 79254aa879..cdea3a3153 100644
--- a/collects/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
+++ b/collects/compiler/commands/exe.rkt
@@ -101,22 +101,29 @@
        dest
        (exe-aux)))]
    [else
+    (define mod-sym (string->symbol
+                     (format "#%mzc:~a"
+                             (let-values ([(base name dir?)
+                                           (split-path source-file)])
+                               (path->bytes (path-replace-suffix name #""))))))
     (mzc:create-embedding-executable
      dest
      #:mred? (gui)
      #:variant (if (3m) '3m 'cgc)
      #:verbose? (very-verbose)
-     #:modules (cons `(#%mzc: (file ,source-file) (main))
+     #:modules (cons `(#%mzc: (file ,source-file) (main configure-runtime))
                      (map (lambda (l) `(#t (lib ,l)))
                           (exe-embedded-libraries)))
      #:configure-via-first-module? #t
+     #:early-literal-expressions
+     (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
+       (define cr-sym (string->symbol (format "~a(configure-runtime)" mod-sym)))
+       (list
+        (compile
+         `(when (module-declared? '',cr-sym)
+            (dynamic-require '',cr-sym #f)))))
      #:literal-expression
      (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
-       (define mod-sym (string->symbol
-                        (format "#%mzc:~a"
-                                (let-values ([(base name dir?)
-                                              (split-path source-file)])
-                                  (path->bytes (path-replace-suffix name #""))))))
        (define main-sym (string->symbol (format "~a(main)" mod-sym)))
        (compile
         `(begin
diff --git a/collects/tests/racket/embed-me22.rkt b/collects/tests/racket/embed-me22.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..729a45a171
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/tests/racket/embed-me22.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#lang racket/kernel
+
+(printf "This is 22.\n")
+
+(module configure-runtime racket/kernel
+  (printf "Configure!\n"))
diff --git a/collects/tests/racket/embed.rktl b/collects/tests/racket/embed.rktl
index f84cf26392..0a2527aa46 100644
--- a/collects/tests/racket/embed.rktl
+++ b/collects/tests/racket/embed.rktl
@@ -304,7 +304,15 @@
 	     (path->string (build-path (collection-path "tests" "racket") "embed-me20.rkt")))
     (try-exe (mk-dest mred?) "This is 20.\n" mred?)
 
-    ;;raco exe --launcher
+    ;; raco exe on a module with a `configure-runtime' submodule
+    (system* raco
+             "exe"
+	     "-o" (path->string (mk-dest mred?))
+	     (if mred? "--gui" "--")
+	     (path->string (build-path (collection-path "tests" "racket") "embed-me22.rkt")))
+    (try-exe (mk-dest mred?) "Configure!\nThis is 22.\n" mred?)
+
+    ;; raco exe --launcher
     (system* raco
              "exe"
              "--launcher"