diff --git a/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/KotlinIrLinker.kt b/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/KotlinIrLinker.kt
index 7758d75836a..f3629e44d2a 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/KotlinIrLinker.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/KotlinIrLinker.kt
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ abstract class KotlinIrLinker(
                     if (!deserializedTopLevels.contains(it)) reachableTopLevels.add(it) // Assuming forward declarations are always top levels.
                 }
 
+                descriptor?.module?.let {
+                    if (!deserializersForModules.containsKey(it) && !it.isForwardDeclarationModule) {
+                        deserializeIrModuleHeader(it)!!
+                    }
+                }
+
                 referenceDeserializedSymbol(proto, descriptor)
             }
             if (symbol.descriptor is ClassDescriptor &&