diff --git a/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el b/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
index 52f663a73..d3b36d73a 100644
--- a/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
+++ b/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
   "Open a terminal buffer in the current window. If ARG (universal argument) is
 non-nil, cd into the current project's root."
   (interactive "P")
+  (unless (fboundp 'module-load)
+    (user-error "Your build of Emacs lacks dynamic modules support and cannot load vterm"))
   (let ((default-directory
           (if arg
               (or (doom-project-root) default-directory)
@@ -16,6 +18,8 @@ non-nil, cd into the current project's root."
   "Open a terminal popup window. If ARG (universal argument) is
 non-nil, cd into the current project's root."
   (interactive "P")
+  (unless (fboundp 'module-load)
+    (user-error "Your build of Emacs lacks dynamic modules support and cannot load vterm"))
   (let ((default-directory
           (if arg
               (or (doom-project-root) default-directory)
diff --git a/modules/tools/vterm/config.el b/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
index ab89ee5ee..900678c4a 100644
--- a/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
+++ b/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 (def-package! vterm
   :when (fboundp 'module-load)
   :defer t
-  :init (setq vterm-install t)
+  :preface (setq vterm-install t)
   :config
   (set-env! "SHELL")
   (set-popup-rule! "^vterm" :size 0.25 :vslot -4 :select t :quit nil :ttl 0)
diff --git a/modules/tools/vterm/doctor.el b/modules/tools/vterm/doctor.el
index 866c4b62d..0700bafdb 100644
--- a/modules/tools/vterm/doctor.el
+++ b/modules/tools/vterm/doctor.el
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 ;;; tools/vterm/doctor.el -*- lexical-binding: t; -*-
 
 (unless (executable-find "vterm-ctrl")
-  (warn! "Couldn't find libvterm. Vterm module won't compile."))
+  (warn! "Couldn't find libvterm. Vterm module won't compile"))
 
 (unless (executable-find "make")
-  (warn! "Couldn't find make command. Vterm module won't compile."))
+  (warn! "Couldn't find make command. Vterm module won't compile"))
 
 (unless (executable-find "cmake")
   (warn! "Couldn't find cmake command. Vterm module won't compile"))
 
 (unless (fboundp 'module-load)
-  (warn! "Your emacs don't have MODULES support. Vterm module won't work."))
+  (warn! "Your emacs doesn't have MODULES support. Vterm module won't work"))