diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7c107ac0d5..0b53b51521 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ flag
 At this point, you can run the agent as a separate process or not run it on this node at all.
 
 If you encounter an error like `"stream server error: listen tcp: lookup some-host on X.X.X.X:53: no such host"`
-when starting k3s please ensure `/etc/hosts` contains your current hostname (output of `hostname`), 
+when starting k3s please ensure `/etc/hosts` contains your current hostname (output of `hostname`),
 set to a 127.x.x.x address. For example:
 ```
 127.0.1.1	myhost
@@ -267,8 +267,6 @@ After=network.target
 [Service]
 Type=notify
 EnvironmentFile=/etc/systemd/system/k3s.service.env
-ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe br_netfilter
-ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe overlay
 ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/k3s server
 KillMode=process
 Delegate=yes
diff --git a/k3s.service b/k3s.service
index c30850295c..12017aec5d 100644
--- a/k3s.service
+++ b/k3s.service
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ Documentation=https://k3s.io
 After=network.target
 
 [Service]
-ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe br_netfilter
-ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe overlay
+Type=notify
+EnvironmentFile=/etc/systemd/system/k3s.service.env
 ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/k3s server
 KillMode=process
 Delegate=yes
diff --git a/pkg/agent/syssetup/setup.go b/pkg/agent/syssetup/setup.go
index 7f32479034..ededacf01d 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/syssetup/setup.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/syssetup/setup.go
@@ -13,12 +13,26 @@ var (
 )
 
 func Configure() error {
-	exec.Command("modprobe", "br_netfilter").Run()
+	if err := exec.Command("modprobe", "br_netfilter").Run(); err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("failed to start br_netfilter module")
+		return nil
+	}
 	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(callIPTablesFile, []byte("1"), 0640); err != nil {
 		logrus.Warnf("failed to write value 1 at %s: %v", callIPTablesFile, err)
+		return nil
 	}
 	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(forward, []byte("1"), 0640); err != nil {
 		logrus.Warnf("failed to write value 1 at %s: %v", forward, err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := exec.Command("modprobe", "overlay").Run(); err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("failed to start overlay module")
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := exec.Command("modprobe", "nf_conntrack").Run(); err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("failed to start nf_conntrack module")
+		return nil
 	}
 	return nil
 }