diff --git a/src/.config b/src/.config
index e014349c1..00a7321b9 100644
--- a/src/.config
+++ b/src/.config
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@ FIRMWARE_TYPE=bios
 #
 USE_PREDEFINED_KERNEL_CONFIG=false
 
+# Build kernel modules and make them available in the overlayfs / rootfs in the
+# /lib/modules directory. The modules can be loaded via 'insmod' to support
+# additional periphery and software devices.
+# Note however, that the essential drivers to load the overlayfs have to be
+# included in the kernel as the overlayfs might not be loaded otherwise.
+BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES=false
+
 # Use predefined '.config' file when building Busybox. This overrides the
 # config generation in 'xx_build_busybox.sh' and the build process uses the
 # config file provided in this parameter. Place the configuration file here:
diff --git a/src/02_build_kernel.sh b/src/02_build_kernel.sh
index 690f40e8c..4e0db8d76 100755
--- a/src/02_build_kernel.sh
+++ b/src/02_build_kernel.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ make mrproper -j $NUM_JOBS
 
 # Read the 'USE_PREDEFINED_KERNEL_CONFIG' property from '.config'
 USE_PREDEFINED_KERNEL_CONFIG=`read_property USE_PREDEFINED_KERNEL_CONFIG`
+BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES=`read_property BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES`
 
 if [ "$USE_PREDEFINED_KERNEL_CONFIG" = "true" -a ! -f $SRC_DIR/minimal_config/kernel.config ] ; then
   echo "Config file '$SRC_DIR/minimal_config/kernel.config' does not exist."
@@ -106,15 +107,28 @@ make \
   CFLAGS="$CFLAGS" \
   bzImage -j $NUM_JOBS
 
+if [ "$BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES" = "true" ] ; then
+  echo "Building kernel modules."
+  make \
+    CFLAGS="$CFLAGS" \
+    modules -j $NUM_JOBS
+fi
+
 # Prepare the kernel install area.
 echo "Removing old kernel artifacts. This may take a while."
 rm -rf $KERNEL_INSTALLED
 mkdir $KERNEL_INSTALLED
 
+echo "Installing the kernel."
 # Install the kernel file.
 cp arch/x86/boot/bzImage \
   $KERNEL_INSTALLED/kernel
 
+if [ "$BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES" = "true" ] ; then
+  make INSTALL_MOD_PATH=$KERNEL_INSTALLED \
+    modules_install -j $NUM_JOBS
+fi
+
 # Install kernel headers which are used later when we build and configure the
 # GNU C library (glibc).
 echo "Generating kernel headers."
diff --git a/src/09_generate_rootfs.sh b/src/09_generate_rootfs.sh
index cf94260e1..adcbefbf9 100755
--- a/src/09_generate_rootfs.sh
+++ b/src/09_generate_rootfs.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ set -e
 # Load common properties and functions in the current script.
 . ./common.sh
 
+BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES=`read_property BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES`
+
 echo "*** GENERATE ROOTFS BEGIN ***"
 
 echo "Preparing rootfs work area. This may take a while."
@@ -69,6 +71,12 @@ if [ "$OVERLAY_LOCATION" = "rootfs" ] && \
     $OVERLAY_ROOTFS/* $ROOTFS
   cp -r --remove-destination \
     $SRC_DIR/minimal_overlay/rootfs/* $ROOTFS
+
+  # Copy all modules to the sysroot folder.
+  if [ "$BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES" = "true" ] ; then
+    echo "Copying modules. This may take a while."
+    cp -r --remove-destination $KERNEL_INSTALLED/lib $ROOTFS
+  fi
 fi
 
 echo "The rootfs area has been generated."
diff --git a/src/11_generate_overlay.sh b/src/11_generate_overlay.sh
index 73766f8a9..5d840211c 100755
--- a/src/11_generate_overlay.sh
+++ b/src/11_generate_overlay.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ OVERLAY_TYPE=`read_property OVERLAY_TYPE`
 # Read the 'OVERLAY_LOCATION' property from '.config'
 OVERLAY_LOCATION=`read_property OVERLAY_LOCATION`
 
+BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES=`read_property BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES`
+
 if [ "$OVERLAY_LOCATION" = "iso" ] && \
    [ "$OVERLAY_TYPE" = "sparse" ] && \
    [ -d $OVERLAY_ROOTFS ] && \
@@ -64,6 +66,12 @@ if [ "$OVERLAY_LOCATION" = "iso" ] && \
   cp -r $SRC_DIR/minimal_overlay/rootfs/* \
     $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/sparse/rootfs
 
+  # Copy all modules to the sysroot folder.
+  if [ "$BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES" = "true" ] ; then
+    echo "Copying modules. This may take a while."
+    cp -r $KERNEL_INSTALLED/lib $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/sparse/rootfs
+  fi
+
   # Unmount the sparse file and delete the temporary folder.
   sync
   $BUSYBOX umount $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/sparse
@@ -92,6 +100,12 @@ elif [ "$OVERLAY_LOCATION" = "iso" ] && \
     $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/minimal/rootfs
   cp -r $SRC_DIR/minimal_overlay/rootfs/* \
     $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/minimal/rootfs
+
+  # Copy all modules to the sysroot folder.
+  if [ "$BUILD_KERNEL_MODULES" = "true" ] ; then
+    echo "Copying modules. This may take a while."
+    cp -r $KERNEL_INSTALLED/lib $ISOIMAGE_OVERLAY/minimal/rootfs
+  fi
 else
   echo "The ISO image will have no overlay structure."
 fi