diff --git a/drivers/misc/vmw_balloon.c b/drivers/misc/vmw_balloon.c
index fe56e72f9463..5f8b583c6e41 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/vmw_balloon.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/vmw_balloon.c
@@ -1297,7 +1297,14 @@ static int __init vmballoon_init(void)
 
 	return 0;
 }
-module_init(vmballoon_init);
+
+/*
+ * Using late_initcall() instead of module_init() allows the balloon to use the
+ * VMCI doorbell even when the balloon is built into the kernel. Otherwise the
+ * VMCI is probed only after the balloon is initialized. If the balloon is used
+ * as a module, late_initcall() is equivalent to module_init().
+ */
+late_initcall(vmballoon_init);
 
 static void __exit vmballoon_exit(void)
 {