diff --git a/scripts/depmod.sh b/scripts/depmod.sh
index baedaef53ca0..b0cb89e73bc5 100755
--- a/scripts/depmod.sh
+++ b/scripts/depmod.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ if ! test -r System.map ; then
 	exit 0
 fi
 
+# legacy behavior: "depmod" in /sbin, no /sbin in PATH
+PATH="$PATH:/sbin"
 if [ -z $(command -v $DEPMOD) ]; then
 	echo "Warning: 'make modules_install' requires $DEPMOD. Please install it." >&2
 	echo "This is probably in the kmod package." >&2