diff --git a/webpack.config.js b/webpack.config.js
index 1cd081e..c5a1f53 100644
--- a/webpack.config.js
+++ b/webpack.config.js
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ const builddir = process.env.SRCDIR || __dirname;
 const distdir = builddir + path.sep + "dist";
 const section = process.env.ONLYDIR || null;
 const libdir = path.resolve(srcdir, "lib")
-const nodedir = path.resolve(process.env.SRCDIR || __dirname, "node_modules");
+// absolute path disables recursive module resolution, so build a relative one
+const nodedir = path.relative(process.cwd(), path.resolve((process.env.SRCDIR || __dirname), "node_modules"));
 
 /* A standard nodejs and webpack pattern */
 var production = process.env.NODE_ENV === "production";