diff --git a/cmd/dkl-local-server/bootv2.go b/cmd/dkl-local-server/bootv2.go
index 98d0d31..38ce49d 100644
--- a/cmd/dkl-local-server/bootv2.go
+++ b/cmd/dkl-local-server/bootv2.go
@@ -58,8 +58,10 @@ func buildInitrd(out io.Writer, ctx *renderContext) (err error) {
 	for _, layer := range cfg.Layers {
 		switch layer {
 		case "modules":
-
 			layerVersion := ctx.Host.Versions[layer]
+			if layerVersion == "" {
+				layerVersion = ctx.Host.Kernel
+			}
 			modulesPath, err := distFetch("layers", layer, layerVersion)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err