diff --git a/examples/rust-gcoap/Cargo.toml b/examples/rust-gcoap/Cargo.toml
index 4a0e2a7dcb..275eedaffb 100644
--- a/examples/rust-gcoap/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/rust-gcoap/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,3 +14,9 @@ riot-wrappers = { version = "^0.7.18", features = [ "set_panic_handler", "panic_
 coap-message-demos = { git = "https://gitlab.com/chrysn/coap-message-demos/", default-features = false }
 coap-handler-implementations = "0.3"
 riot-coap-handler-demos = { git = "https://gitlab.com/etonomy/riot-module-examples/", features = [ "vfs" ] }
+
+# While currently this exmple does not use any RIOT modules implemented in
+# Rust, that may change; it is best practice for any RIOT application that has
+# its own top-level Rust crate to include rust_riotmodules from inside
+# RIOTBASE.
+rust_riotmodules = { path = "../../sys/rust_riotmodules/" }
diff --git a/examples/rust-gcoap/src/lib.rs b/examples/rust-gcoap/src/lib.rs
index 4fdcdbba21..301557978e 100644
--- a/examples/rust-gcoap/src/lib.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-gcoap/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ use riot_wrappers::{gcoap, thread, ztimer, gnrc};
 
 use coap_handler_implementations::{ReportingHandlerBuilder, HandlerBuilder};
 
+extern crate rust_riotmodules;
+
 riot_main!(main);
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/examples/rust-hello-world/Cargo.toml b/examples/rust-hello-world/Cargo.toml
index a841f702c2..9dc05fcfd2 100644
--- a/examples/rust-hello-world/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/rust-hello-world/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,3 +11,9 @@ crate-type = ["staticlib"]
 [dependencies]
 # `default-features = false` can be removed with 0.8, and enables building on stable during the 0.7 series
 riot-wrappers = { version = "0.7", features = [ "set_panic_handler" ], default-features = false }
+
+# While currently this exmple does not use any RIOT modules implemented in
+# Rust, that may change; it is best practice for any RIOT application that has
+# its own top-level Rust crate to include rust_riotmodules from inside
+# RIOTBASE.
+rust_riotmodules = { path = "../../sys/rust_riotmodules/" }
diff --git a/examples/rust-hello-world/src/lib.rs b/examples/rust-hello-world/src/lib.rs
index f4ad7a8fc4..3f72a5615a 100644
--- a/examples/rust-hello-world/src/lib.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-hello-world/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 use riot_wrappers::riot_main;
 use riot_wrappers::println;
 
+extern crate rust_riotmodules;
+
 riot_main!(main);
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml b/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
index 128a03eb9f..c6b2f5f546 100644
--- a/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
+++ b/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,3 +17,8 @@ panic = "abort"
 [dependencies]
 # `default-features = false` can be removed with 0.8, and enables building on stable during the 0.7 series
 riot-wrappers = { version = "0.7", features = [ "set_panic_handler" ], default-features = false }
+
+# While currently this test does not use any RIOT modules implemented in Rust,
+# that may change; it is best practice for any RIOT application that has its
+# own top-level Rust crate to include rust_riotmodules from inside RIOTBASE.
+rust_riotmodules = { path = "../../sys/rust_riotmodules/" }
diff --git a/tests/rust_minimal/src/lib.rs b/tests/rust_minimal/src/lib.rs
index 358a332ab2..6ba145d044 100644
--- a/tests/rust_minimal/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tests/rust_minimal/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 use riot_wrappers::riot_main;
 use riot_wrappers::println;
 
+extern crate rust_riotmodules;
+
 riot_main!(main);
 
 fn main() {