diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 9264964..92e349f 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1658,7 +1658,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.27.5"
+version = "0.27.6"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1692,7 +1692,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.27.5"
+version = "0.27.6"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1704,7 +1704,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.27.5"
+version = "0.27.6"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index b491bd0..216aec3 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.27.5"
+version                 = "0.27.6"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index f20c07b..5d9ea5f 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.27.5"
+version                 = "0.27.6"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/scripts/install/client.sh b/scripts/install/client.sh
index fa4f7f5..209d455 100755
--- a/scripts/install/client.sh
+++ b/scripts/install/client.sh
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ report_client_media_acceleration() {
 require_kernel_module() {
   local module=$1
   local why=$2
-  if modinfo "$module" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if [[ -d "/sys/module/${module}" ]] || modinfo "$module" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     return 0
   fi
   local running_kernel
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index 9379fa9..54beb59 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.27.5"
+version                 = "0.27.6"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false
 
diff --git a/tests/contract/scripts/install/client_install_script_contract.rs b/tests/contract/scripts/install/client_install_script_contract.rs
index 5c44f5c..1be6f97 100644
--- a/tests/contract/scripts/install/client_install_script_contract.rs
+++ b/tests/contract/scripts/install/client_install_script_contract.rs
@@ -156,6 +156,14 @@ fn client_install_reports_nvidia_and_open_source_media_routes() {
     );
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn client_install_accepts_required_modules_already_loaded_by_the_running_kernel() {
+    assert!(
+        CLIENT_INSTALL.contains("[[ -d \"/sys/module/${module}\" ]] || modinfo"),
+        "installer should not reject a working loaded module just because a newer package replaced the running kernel's module tree"
+    );
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn client_install_treats_pipewire_as_one_coherent_transaction() {
     for expected in [