diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/neovim/build-neovim-plugin.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/neovim/build-neovim-plugin.nix
index 09be43bdf14f..4ed1b6badb73 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/neovim/build-neovim-plugin.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/neovim/build-neovim-plugin.nix
@@ -28,11 +28,12 @@ let
     version = attrs.version or old.version;
     __intentionallyOverridingVersion = true;
     rockspecVersion = old.rockspecVersion;
-
-    extraConfig = ''
-      -- to create a flat hierarchy
-      lua_modules_path = "lua"
-    '';
+    luarocksConfig = (old.luarocksConfig or { }) // {
+      # to create a flat hierarchy
+      lua_modules_path = "lua";
+      # neovim expects C modules to also be in the lua directory
+      lib_modules_path = "lua";
+    };
   });
 
   finalDrv = toVimPlugin (