diff --git a/.cirrus.yml b/.cirrus.yml
index b4c9b3f47..61d6ab423 100644
--- a/.cirrus.yml
+++ b/.cirrus.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ task:
       --disable-font-variations \
       --with-system-lua-sources \
       --with-system-luarocks \
+      --with-luarocks=luarocks51 \
       --without-manual
   make_script:
     - gmake all
diff --git a/build-aux/pkg.nix b/build-aux/pkg.nix
index 2cf64e802..6b9fd535e 100644
--- a/build-aux/pkg.nix
+++ b/build-aux/pkg.nix
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ let
     ps:
     with ps;
     [
+      # used for module detection, also recommended at runtime for 3rd party module installation
+      luarocks
+
+      # modules used at runtime
       cassowary
       cldr
       fluent
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d3ff56d1a..0404287c7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ QUE_PROGVAR([diff])
 QUE_PROGVAR([find])
 QUE_PROGVAR([head])
 QUE_PROGVAR([jq])
+QUE_PROGVAR([luarocks])
 QUE_PROGVAR([pdfinfo])
 QUE_PROGVAR([sort])
 QUE_PROGVAR([xargs])
@@ -189,7 +190,6 @@ AM_COND_IF([DEVELOPER_TOOLS], [
     QUE_PROGVAR([curl])
     QUE_PROGVAR([ldoc])
     QUE_PROGVAR([luacheck])
-    QUE_PROGVAR([luarocks])
     QUE_PROGVAR([nix])
     QUE_PROGVAR([npm])
     QUE_PROGVAR([perl])
@@ -227,7 +227,6 @@ AM_COND_IF([SYSTEM_LUAROCKS], [
     AX_LUA_MODULE(penlight, pl)
     AX_LUA_MODULE(vstruct)
 ], [
-    QUE_PROGVAR([luarocks])
     QUE_PROGVAR([git]) # required for luarocks to install zlib rock
 ])
 
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 0a9c4ee36..4a2814a36 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@
               "--with-manual"
             ];
             nativeBuildInputs = sile.nativeBuildInputs ++ [
-              pkgs.luarocks
               # For regression test diff highlighting
               pkgs.delta
               # For commitlint git hook