diff --git a/mk/check_modules.sh b/mk/check_modules.sh
index 8b393d8d40..411f6a68a0 100755
--- a/mk/check_modules.sh
+++ b/mk/check_modules.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ for m in $MODULE_LIST; do
         NEED_INIT=1
         break
     }
+    [ -f modules/$m/.git ] || {
+        echo "module/$m/.git missing - need module init"
+        NEED_INIT=1
+        break
+    }
 done
 
 [ $NEED_INIT = 1 ] && {