diff --git a/pio-scripts/load_usermods.py b/pio-scripts/load_usermods.py
index 76359a7a6..7aa6c4d8d 100644
--- a/pio-scripts/load_usermods.py
+++ b/pio-scripts/load_usermods.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 Import('env')
+import os.path
 from pathlib import Path   # For OS-agnostic path manipulation
+from platformio.package.manager.library import LibraryPackageManager
 
 usermod_dir = Path(env["PROJECT_DIR"]) / "usermods"
 all_usermods = [f for f in usermod_dir.iterdir() if f.is_dir() and f.joinpath('library.json').exists()]
@@ -24,38 +26,70 @@ def find_usermod(mod: str):
 
 usermods = env.GetProjectOption("custom_usermods","")
 if usermods:
+  # Inject usermods in to project lib_deps
   proj = env.GetProjectConfig()
-  deps = env.GetProjectOption('lib_deps')  
+  deps = env.GetProjectOption('lib_deps')
   src_dir = proj.get("platformio", "src_dir")
   src_dir = src_dir.replace('\\','/')
   mod_paths = {mod: find_usermod(mod) for mod in usermods.split(" ")}
   usermods = [f"{mod} = symlink://{path}" for mod, path in mod_paths.items()]
-  proj.set("env:" + env['PIOENV'], 'lib_deps', deps + usermods)  
+  proj.set("env:" + env['PIOENV'], 'lib_deps', deps + usermods)
+  # Force usermods to be installed in to the environment build state before the LDF runs
+  # Otherwise we won't be able to see them until it's too late to change their paths for LDF
+  # Logic is largely borrowed from PlaformIO internals
+  not_found_specs = []
+  for spec in usermods:
+    found = False
+    for storage_dir in env.GetLibSourceDirs():
+      #print(f"Checking {storage_dir} for {spec}")
+      lm = LibraryPackageManager(storage_dir)
+      if lm.get_package(spec):
+          #print("Found!")
+          found = True
+          break
+    if not found:
+        #print("Missing!")
+        not_found_specs.append(spec)
+  if not_found_specs:
+      lm = LibraryPackageManager(
+          env.subst(os.path.join("$PROJECT_LIBDEPS_DIR", "$PIOENV"))
+      )
+      for spec in not_found_specs:
+        #print(f"LU: forcing install of {spec}")
+        lm.install(spec)
 
 
 # Monkey-patch ConfigureProjectLibBuilder to mark up the dependencies
 # Save the old value
-cpl = env.ConfigureProjectLibBuilder
+old_ConfigureProjectLibBuilder = env.ConfigureProjectLibBuilder
+
 # Our new wrapper
-def cpl_wrapper(env):
+def wrapped_ConfigureProjectLibBuilder(xenv):
   # Update usermod properties
-  lib_builders = env.GetLibBuilders()  
-  um_deps = [dep for dep in lib_builders if usermod_dir in Path(dep.src_dir).parents]
-  other_deps = [dep for dep in lib_builders if usermod_dir not in Path(dep.src_dir).parents]
-  for um in um_deps:
-    # Add include paths for all non-usermod dependencies
-    for dep in other_deps:
-        for dir in dep.get_include_dirs():
-            um.env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=dir)
-    # Add the wled folder to the include path    
-    um.env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=env["PROJECT_SRC_DIR"])
-    # Make sure we link directly, not through an archive
-    # Archives drop the .dtor table section we need
+  # Set libArchive before build actions are added
+  for um in (um for um in xenv.GetLibBuilders() if usermod_dir in Path(um.src_dir).parents):
     build = um._manifest.get("build", {})
     build["libArchive"] = False
     um._manifest["build"] = build
-  return cpl.clone(env)()
 
+  # Call the wrapped function
+  result = old_ConfigureProjectLibBuilder.clone(xenv)()
 
-# Replace the old one with ours
-env.AddMethod(cpl_wrapper, "ConfigureProjectLibBuilder")
+  # Fix up include paths
+  # In PlatformIO >=6.1.17, this could be done prior to ConfigureProjectLibBuilder
+  wled_dir = xenv["PROJECT_SRC_DIR"]
+  lib_builders = xenv.GetLibBuilders()
+  um_deps = [dep for dep in lib_builders if usermod_dir in Path(dep.src_dir).parents]
+  other_deps = [dep for dep in lib_builders if usermod_dir not in Path(dep.src_dir).parents]
+  for um in um_deps:
+    # Add the wled folder to the include path
+    um.env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=wled_dir)
+    # Add WLED's own dependencies
+    for dep in other_deps:
+        for dir in dep.get_include_dirs():
+            um.env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH=dir)
+
+  return result
+
+# Apply the wrapper
+env.AddMethod(wrapped_ConfigureProjectLibBuilder, "ConfigureProjectLibBuilder")