diff --git a/pyinst.py b/pyinst.py
index 9e8128e09..c63d879a0 100644
--- a/pyinst.py
+++ b/pyinst.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def main():
         '--noconfirm',
         *dependency_options(),
         *opts,
+        '--collect-submodules=yt_dlp',
         'yt_dlp/__main__.py',
     ]
     print(f'Running PyInstaller with {opts}')
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 45f4d6b49..141cb238f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ if sys.argv[1:2] == ['py2exe']:
                 'dist_dir': './dist',
                 'excludes': ['Crypto', 'Cryptodome'],  # py2exe cannot import Crypto
                 'dll_excludes': ['w9xpopen.exe', 'crypt32.dll'],
+                # Modules that are only imported dynamically must be added here
+                'includes': ['yt_dlp.compat._legacy'],
             }
         },
         'zipfile': None