diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/core.py b/artiq/coredevice/core.py
index a7ea27269..dcd9c9ef8 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/core.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/core.py
@@ -102,7 +102,11 @@ class Core:
             raise NotImplementedError
 
         if not self.analyzed:
-            self.compiler.analyze(core_language._registered_functions, core_language._registered_classes)
+            self.compiler.analyze(
+                core_language._registered_functions,
+                core_language._registered_classes,
+                core_language._registered_modules
+            )
             self.analyzed = True
 
         if hasattr(method, "__self__"):
diff --git a/artiq/language/core.py b/artiq/language/core.py
index a3f9faa03..7e970e420 100644
--- a/artiq/language/core.py
+++ b/artiq/language/core.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ def ceil64(x):
 # Delay NAC3 analysis until all referenced variables are supposed to exist on the CPython side.
 _registered_functions = set()
 _registered_classes = set()
+_registered_modules = set()
 
 def _register_function(fun):
     import_cache.add_module_to_cache(getmodule(fun))
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ def _register_class(cls):
     import_cache.add_module_to_cache(getmodule(cls))
     _registered_classes.add(cls)
 
+def register_content_module(module):
+    # for kernels sent by content, they have no modules
+    # thus their source must be analyzed instead
+    _registered_modules.add(module)
+
 
 def extern(function):
     """Decorates a function declaration defined by the core device runtime."""
diff --git a/artiq/master/worker_impl.py b/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
index 86f08b060..916c43728 100644
--- a/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
+++ b/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ from artiq.master.worker_db import DeviceManager, DatasetManager, DummyDevice
 from artiq.language.environment import (
     is_public_experiment, TraceArgumentManager, ProcessArgumentManager
 )
-from artiq.language.core import set_watchdog_factory, TerminationRequested
+from artiq.language.core import (
+    register_content_module, set_watchdog_factory, TerminationRequested
+)
 from artiq.language import import_cache
 from artiq import __version__ as artiq_version
 
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ def get_experiment_from_content(content, class_name):
         StringLoader(fake_filename, content)
     )
     module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    register_content_module(module)
     spec.loader.exec_module(module)
     linecache.lazycache(fake_filename, module.__dict__)
     return tools.get_experiment(module, class_name)