diff --git a/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm b/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
index 7a167146f..ef81fe718 100644
--- a/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
@@ -115,16 +115,19 @@ when modules need to be loaded."
             (current-error-port (%make-void-port "w"))
             (current-output-port (%make-void-port "w")))
 
-          (let ((modules (matching-modules alias %known-aliases)))
+          ;; Look up ALIAS in %KNOWN-ALIASES first, and then, if it fails,
+          ;; assume that ALIAS is a module name (some modules such as
+          ;; 'dm-crypt' don't have an alias.)  Note that
+          ;; 'kmod_module_new_from_lookup' uses a different search order.
+          (let ((modules (match (matching-modules alias %known-aliases)
+                           (()  (list alias))
+                           (lst lst))))
             (call-with-output-file "/dev/kmsg"
               (lambda (port)
                 (setvbuf port 'block 1024)
                 (format port "modprobe[~a]: alias ~s; modules ~s; args ~s~%"
                         (getpid) alias modules (program-arguments))))
 
-            (when (null? modules)
-              (error "alias resolution failed" alias))
-
             (load-linux-modules-from-directory modules
                                                linux-module-directory)))))