diff --git a/Runner/plans/video_pre-merge.yaml b/Runner/plans/video_pre-merge.yaml
index cd97182f..827b9d02 100755
--- a/Runner/plans/video_pre-merge.yaml
+++ b/Runner/plans/video_pre-merge.yaml
@@ -1,55 +1,55 @@
 metadata:
   format: Lava-Test Test Definition 1.0
-  name: Video_V4L2_All
-  description: "Single YAML: pass TARGET, STACK, iris path and downstream FW; run.sh handles the rest"
+  name: Video_V4L2_With_Secrets
+  description: "Run Video V4L2 runner; use LAVA secrets for Wi-Fi; auto-args for kodiak vs lemans/monaco; run base & overlay"
   maintainer:
     - smuppand@qti.qualcomm.com
   os:
     - openembedded
   scope:
     - functional
- 
+
 run:
   steps:
     - cd Runner
     - export REPO_ROOT="$PWD"
- 
-    # --- Job-level inputs (set per device/job) ---
-    - export TARGET="${TARGET:-}"               # e.g. Kodiak|LeMans|Monaco|Talos
-    - export STACK="${STACK:-both}"             # base|overlay|auto|both or synonyms: upstream|downstream
-    - export IRIS_BIN="${IRIS_BIN:-}"           # optional: /path/to/iris_v4l2_test
-    - export DOWNSTREAM_FW="${DOWNSTREAM_FW:-}" # optional: firmware blob for overlay
- 
-    # Normalize STACK -> MODE (one-liner synonyms)
-    - export MODE_NORM="$(printf '%s' "$STACK" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | sed -e 's/^upstream$/base/' -e 's/^downstream$/overlay/')"
-    - |
-      case "$MODE_NORM" in base|overlay|auto|both) : ;; *) MODE_NORM="both" ;; esac
-      echo "TARGET=$TARGET  STACK=$STACK  MODE_NORM=$MODE_NORM"
- 
-    # Build args for run.sh (match your CLI exactly)
+    - export TARGET="${TARGET:-}" # expected values: kodiak | lemans | monaco (case-insensitive)
+
+    # Read Wi-Fi credentials from LAVA-provided secrets (exported as env vars in the job)
+    - export SSID="${LAVA_WIFI_SSID:-}"
+    - export PASSWORD="${LAVA_WIFI_PASSWORD:-}"
+
+    # Build args for run.sh based on TARGET; always pass secrets; add downstream FW only for kodiak
     - |
+      RPATH="$REPO_ROOT/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/run.sh"
+      RESFILE="$REPO_ROOT/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/Video_V4L2_Runner.res"
       ARGS=""
-      [ -n "$TARGET" ] && ARGS="$ARGS --target \"$TARGET\""
- 
-      if [ -n "$IRIS_BIN" ]; then
-        ARGS="$ARGS --iris-bin \"$IRIS_BIN\""
-      else
-        IB="$(command -v iris_v4l2_test 2>/dev/null || true)"
-        [ -n "$IB" ] && ARGS="$ARGS --iris-bin \"$IB\""
-      fi
- 
-      [ -n "$DOWNSTREAM_FW" ] && ARGS="$ARGS --downstream-fw \"$DOWNSTREAM_FW\""
- 
-      echo "ARGS=$ARGS"
- 
-    # Single call: run.sh handles base/overlay/auto and 'both' via its reexec shim
-    - |
-      cd "$REPO_ROOT/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner"
+      TL="$(printf '%s' "${TARGET:-}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')"
+      case "$TL" in
+        kodiak)
+          ARGS="$ARGS --platform kodiak --app /data/vendor/iris_test_app/iris_v4l2_test --ssid \"$SSID\" --password \"$PASSWORD\" --downstream-fw /data/vendor/iris_test_app/vpu20_p1_gen2.mbn"
+          ;;
+        lemans)
+          ARGS="$ARGS --platform lemans --ssid \"$SSID\" --password \"$PASSWORD\"" --app /data/vendor/iris_test_app/iris_v4l2_test
+          ;;
+        monaco)
+          ARGS="$ARGS --platform monaco --ssid \"$SSID\" --password \"$PASSWORD\"" --app /data/vendor/iris_test_app/iris_v4l2_test
+          ;;
+        *)
+          # Unknown or not provided: still pass secrets; platform autodetect in run.sh
+          ARGS="$ARGS --ssid \"$SSID\" --password \"$PASSWORD\""
+          ;;
+      esac
+      echo "TARGET=${TARGET:-unset} ARGS=$ARGS"
+
+      # Run base (upstream) then overlay (downstream)
+      # shellcheck disable=SC2086
+      sh -lc "$RPATH --stack base $ARGS" || true
+      "$REPO_ROOT/utils/send-to-lava.sh" "$RESFILE" || true
+
       # shellcheck disable=SC2086
-      sh -lc "./run.sh $ARGS --mode \"$MODE_NORM\"" || true
- 
-    # Report result (AUSanity style)
-    - "$REPO_ROOT/utils/send-to-lava.sh" "$REPO_ROOT/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/Video_V4L2_Runner.res" || true
- 
-    # Optional roll-up (ignored if absent)
-    - "$REPO_ROOT/utils/result_parse.sh" || true
+      sh -lc "$RPATH --stack overlay $ARGS" || true
+      "$REPO_ROOT/utils/send-to-lava.sh" "$RESFILE" || true
+
+      # Optional roll-up (ignored if absent)
+      "$REPO_ROOT/utils/result_parse.sh" || true
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/README_Video.md b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/README_Video.md
index 2fe82573..aa53fd16 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/README_Video.md
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/README_Video.md
@@ -37,6 +37,16 @@ The suite includes a **reboot-free video stack switcher** (upstream ↔ downstre
 - **CLI parity**  
   `--stack both` is supported to run the suite twice in one invocation (BASE/upstream pass then OVERLAY/downstream pass).
 
+- **NEW (opt‑in) custom module sources**  
+  You can now point the runner at alternative module locations without disturbing the default flow. If you **do nothing**, behavior is unchanged.  
+  - `--ko-dir DIR[:DIR2:...]` — search these dir(s) for `.ko*` files when resolving modules.  
+  - `--ko-tree ROOT` — use `modprobe -d ROOT` (expects `ROOT/lib/modules/$(uname -r)`).  
+  - `--ko-tar FILE.tar[.gz|.xz|.zst]` — unpack once under `/run/iris_mods/$KVER`; auto-derives a `--ko-tree` or `--ko-dir`.  
+  - `--ko-prefer-custom` — prefer custom sources before the system tree.  
+  - The loader now logs **path resolution** and **load method** lines, e.g.:  
+    - `resolve-path: qcom_iris via KO_DIRS => /data/kos/qcom_iris.ko`  
+    - `load-path: modprobe(system): qcom_iris` / `load-path: insmod: /tmp/qcom_iris.ko`
+
 ---
 
 ## Features
@@ -53,6 +63,7 @@ The suite includes a **reboot-free video stack switcher** (upstream ↔ downstre
 - **Kodiak firmware live swap** with backup/restore helpers
 - **udev refresh + prune** of stale device nodes
 - **Waits/retries/sleeps** integrated across networking, downloads, module ops, and app launches (see next section)
+- **(Opt‑in)** custom module sources with **non-exported** CLI flags (`--ko-*`); defaults remain untouched
 
 ---
 
@@ -68,8 +79,8 @@ These are **environment variables** (not user‑visible CLI flags) so your LAVA
 | `VIDEO_APP_LAUNCH_SLEEP` | `1` | Sleep (seconds) right before launching `iris_v4l2_test` for each case. |
 | `VIDEO_INTER_TEST_SLEEP` | `1` | Sleep (seconds) between cases to allow device/udev to settle. |
 
-> Notes
-> - If download **stalls** or the system clock is invalid for TLS, the runner re-checks network health and treats it as **offline** → decode cases **SKIP** (not FAIL).
+> Notes  
+> - If download **stalls** or the system clock is invalid for TLS, the runner re-checks network health and treats it as **offline** → decode cases **SKIP** (not FAIL).  
 > - Module management includes small internal waits (e.g., `modprobe -r` retry after 200ms, 1s delays around remoteproc/module reloads). These are built‑in, no extra env required.
 
 ---
@@ -138,6 +149,12 @@ cd <target_path>/Runner
 | `--stack auto|upstream|downstream|base|overlay|up|down|both` | Select target stack (use `both` for BASE→OVERLAY two-pass) |
 | `--platform lemans|monaco|kodiak` | Force platform (else auto-detect) |
 | `--downstream-fw PATH` | **Kodiak**: path to DS firmware (e.g. `vpu20_1v.mbn`) |
+| `--ko-dir DIR[:DIR2:...]` | *(Opt‑in)* Additional directories to search for `.ko*` files during resolution |
+| `--ko-tree ROOT` | *(Opt‑in)* Use `modprobe -d ROOT` (expects `ROOT/lib/modules/$(uname -r)`) |
+| `--ko-tar FILE.tar[.gz|.xz|.zst]` | *(Opt‑in)* Unpack once into `/run/iris_mods/$KVER`; auto-derives `--ko-tree` or `--ko-dir` |
+| `--ko-prefer-custom` | *(Opt‑in)* Prefer custom module sources (KO_DIRS/KO_TREE) before system |
+
+> **Default remains unchanged.** If you omit all `--ko-*` flags, the runner uses the system module tree and `modinfo`/`modprobe` resolution only.
 
 ---
 
@@ -288,6 +305,34 @@ export VIDEO_INTER_TEST_SLEEP=3
 ./run.sh --stack upstream
 ```
 
+### (Opt‑in) Use custom module sources
+**Default behavior is unchanged.** Only use these when you want to test modules from a non-system location.
+
+#### Use a prepared tree (modprobe -d)
+```sh
+./run.sh --ko-tree /opt/custom-kmods --stack upstream
+```
+
+#### Search one or more directories of loose .ko files
+```sh
+./run.sh --ko-dir /data/kos:/mnt/usb/venus_kos --stack downstream
+```
+
+#### Prefer custom before system
+```sh
+./run.sh --ko-dir /sdcard/kos --ko-prefer-custom --stack upstream
+```
+
+#### Unpack a tarball of modules and auto-wire paths
+```sh
+./run.sh --ko-tar /sdcard/iris_kmods_${KVER}.tar.xz --stack upstream
+# The runner unpacks into /run/iris_mods/$KVER and derives --ko-tree or --ko-dir.
+```
+
+> While resolving and loading modules, the runner logs lines like:
+> - `resolve-path: venus_core via KO_TREE => /run/iris_mods/6.9.0/lib/modules/6.9.0/venus_core.ko`  
+> - `load-path: insmod: /data/kos/qcom_iris.ko` or `load-path: modprobe(system): qcom_iris`
+
 ---
 
 ## Troubleshooting
@@ -304,4 +349,5 @@ export VIDEO_INTER_TEST_SLEEP=3
 - **Download fails**  
   Ensure time is sane (TLS), network is reachable, and provide Wi‑Fi creds via env or `ssid_list.txt`. The downloader uses BusyBox‑compatible flags with retries and a final TLS‑lenient attempt if needed. When the network remains unreachable, the runner **SKIPs** decode cases.
 
----
\ No newline at end of file
+---
+
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/run.sh b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/run.sh
index f9959daa..043f7d1f 100755
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/run.sh
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Video/Video_V4L2_Runner/run.sh
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ if [ -z "$INIT_ENV" ]; then
 fi
 
 # Only source once (idempotent)
+# NOTE: We intentionally **do not export** any new vars. They stay local to this shell.
 if [ -z "${__INIT_ENV_LOADED:-}" ]; then
     # shellcheck disable=SC1090
     . "$INIT_ENV"
@@ -62,6 +63,16 @@ if [ -z "${REPEAT_POLICY:-}" ]; then REPEAT_POLICY="all"; fi
 JUNIT_OUT=""
 VERBOSE="0"
 
+# --- Stabilizers (opt-in) ---
+RETRY_ON_FAIL="0" # extra attempts after a FAIL
+POST_TEST_SLEEP="0" # settle time after each case
+
+# --- Custom module source (opt-in; default is untouched) ---
+KO_DIRS="" # colon-separated list of dirs that contain .ko files
+KO_TREE="" # alt root that has lib/modules/$KVER
+KO_TARBALL="" # optional tarball that we unpack once
+KO_PREFER_CUSTOM="0" # 1 = try custom first; default 0 = system first
+
 if [ -z "${VIDEO_STACK:-}" ]; then VIDEO_STACK="auto"; fi
 if [ -z "${VIDEO_PLATFORM:-}" ]; then VIDEO_PLATFORM=""; fi
 if [ -z "${VIDEO_FW_DS:-}" ]; then VIDEO_FW_DS=""; fi
@@ -94,8 +105,15 @@ Usage: $0 [--config path.json|/path/dir] [--dir DIR] [--pattern GLOB]
           [--downstream-fw PATH] [--force]
           [--app /path/to/iris_v4l2_test]
           [--ssid SSID] [--password PASS]
+          [--ko-dir DIR[:DIR2:...]] # opt-in: search these dirs for .ko on failure
+          [--ko-tree ROOT] # opt-in: modprobe -d ROOT (expects lib/modules/\$(uname -r))
+          [--ko-tar FILE.tar[.gz|.xz]] # opt-in: unpack once under /run/iris_mods/\$KVER, set --ko-tree/--ko-dir accordingly
+          [--ko-prefer-custom] # opt-in: try custom sources before system
           [--app-launch-sleep S] [--inter-test-sleep S]
           [--log-flavor NAME] # internal: e.g. upstream or downstream (used by --stack both)
+          # --- Stabilizers ---
+          [--retry-on-fail N] # retry up to N times if a case ends FAIL
+          [--post-test-sleep S] # sleep S seconds after each case
 EOF
 }
 
@@ -190,6 +208,22 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
             shift
             PASSWORD="$1"
             ;;
+        --ko-dir)
+            shift
+            KO_DIRS="$1"
+            ;;
+        --ko-tree)
+            shift
+            KO_TREE="$1"
+            ;;
+        --ko-tar)
+            shift
+            KO_TARBALL="$1"
+            ;;
+        --ko-prefer-custom)
+            KO_PREFER_CUSTOM="1"
+            ;;
+
         --app-launch-sleep)
             shift
             APP_LAUNCH_SLEEP="$1"
@@ -202,6 +236,15 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
             shift
             LOG_FLAVOR="$1"
             ;;
+        # --- Stabilizers ---
+        --retry-on-fail)
+            shift
+            RETRY_ON_FAIL="$1"
+            ;;
+        --post-test-sleep)
+            shift
+            POST_TEST_SLEEP="$1"
+            ;;
         --help|-h)
             usage
             exit 0
@@ -234,6 +277,44 @@ export INTER_TEST_SLEEP
 # --- EARLY dependency check (bail out fast) ---
 
 # Ensure the app is executable if a path was provided but lacks +x
+
+# --- Optional: unpack a custom module tarball **once** (no env exports) ---
+KVER="$(uname -r 2>/dev/null || printf '%s' unknown)"
+if [ -n "$KO_TARBALL" ] && [ -f "$KO_TARBALL" ]; then
+    DEST="/run/iris_mods/$KVER"
+    if [ ! -d "$DEST" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$DEST" 2>/dev/null || true
+        case "$KO_TARBALL" in
+            *.tar|*.tar.gz|*.tgz|*.tar.xz|*.txz|*.tar.zst)
+                if command -v tar >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+                    # best-effort; keep extraction bounded to DEST
+                    tar -xf "$KO_TARBALL" -C "$DEST" 2>/dev/null || true
+                fi
+                ;;
+            *)
+                # not a tar? treat as a directory if user passed one by mistake
+                :
+                ;;
+        esac
+    fi
+    # decide whether the tar contained a full tree or loose .ko’s
+    if [ -d "$DEST/lib/modules/$KVER" ]; then
+        KO_TREE="$DEST"
+    else
+        # find first dir that has at least one .ko (bounded depth)
+        first_ko_dir="$(find "$DEST" -type f -name '*.ko*' -maxdepth 3 2>/dev/null | head -n1 | xargs -r dirname)"
+        if [ -n "$first_ko_dir" ]; then
+            if [ -n "$KO_DIRS" ]; then
+                KO_DIRS="$first_ko_dir:$KO_DIRS"
+            else
+                KO_DIRS="$first_ko_dir"
+            fi
+        fi
+    fi
+    # quiet summary (only if user opted-in)
+    log_info "Custom module source prepared (tree='${KO_TREE:-none}', dirs='${KO_DIRS:-none}', prefer_custom=$KO_PREFER_CUSTOM)"
+fi
+
 if [ -n "$VIDEO_APP" ] && [ -f "$VIDEO_APP" ] && [ ! -x "$VIDEO_APP" ]; then
     chmod +x "$VIDEO_APP" 2>/dev/null || true
     if [ ! -x "$VIDEO_APP" ]; then
@@ -497,6 +578,14 @@ if [ "${VIDEO_STACK}" = "both" ]; then
             args="$args --inter-test-sleep $(printf %s "$INTER_TEST_SLEEP")"
         fi
 
+        # --- Stabilizers passthrough ---
+        if [ -n "${RETRY_ON_FAIL:-}" ]; then
+            args="$args --retry-on-fail $(printf %s "$RETRY_ON_FAIL")"
+        fi
+        if [ -n "${POST_TEST_SLEEP:-}" ]; then
+            args="$args --post-test-sleep $(printf %s "$POST_TEST_SLEEP")"
+        fi
+
         printf "%s" "$args"
     }
 
@@ -564,6 +653,15 @@ log_info "APP=$VIDEO_APP"
 if [ -n "$VIDEO_FW_DS" ]; then
     log_info "Downstream FW override: $VIDEO_FW_DS"
 fi
+if [ -n "$KO_TREE$KO_DIRS$KO_TARBALL" ]; then
+    # print only when user actually provided custom sources
+    if [ -n "$KO_TREE" ]; then
+        log_info "Custom module tree (modprobe -d): $KO_TREE"
+    fi
+    if [ -n "$KO_DIRS" ]; then
+        log_info "Custom ko dir(s): $KO_DIRS (prefer_custom=$KO_PREFER_CUSTOM)"
+    fi
+fi
 if [ -n "$VIDEO_FW_BACKUP_DIR" ]; then
     log_info "FW backup override: $VIDEO_FW_BACKUP_DIR"
 fi
@@ -1019,6 +1117,38 @@ while IFS= read -r cfg; do
         fi
     fi
 
+    # (2) Retry on final failure (extra attempts outside REPEAT loop, before recording results)
+    if [ "$final" = "FAIL" ] && [ "$RETRY_ON_FAIL" -gt 0 ] 2>/dev/null; then
+        r=1
+        log_info "[$id] RETRY_ON_FAIL: up to $RETRY_ON_FAIL additional attempt(s)"
+        while [ "$r" -le "$RETRY_ON_FAIL" ]; do
+            # optional delay between retries, reuse REPEAT_DELAY for consistency
+            if [ "$REPEAT_DELAY" -gt 0 ] 2>/dev/null; then
+                sleep "$REPEAT_DELAY"
+            fi
+
+            log_info "[$id] retry attempt $r/$RETRY_ON_FAIL"
+            if video_run_once "$cfg" "$logf" "$TIMEOUT" "$SUCCESS_RE" "$LOGLEVEL"; then
+                pass_runs=$((pass_runs + 1))
+                final="PASS"
+                log_pass "[$id] RETRY succeeded — marking PASS"
+                break
+            else
+                # capture latest rc marker for visibility
+                rc_val="$(awk -F'=' '/^END-RUN rc=/{print $2}' "$logf" 2>/dev/null | tail -n1 | tr -d ' ')"
+                if [ -n "$rc_val" ]; then
+                    case "$rc_val" in
+                        139) log_warn "[$id] Retry exited rc=139 (SIGSEGV)." ;;
+                        134) log_warn "[$id] Retry exited rc=134 (SIGABRT)." ;;
+                        137) log_warn "[$id] Retry exited rc=137 (SIGKILL/OOM?)." ;;
+                        *) : ;;
+                    esac
+                fi
+            fi
+            r=$((r + 1))
+        done
+    fi
+
     {
         printf 'RESULT id=%s mode=%s pretty="%s" final=%s pass_runs=%s fail_runs=%s elapsed=%s\n' \
             "$id" "$mode" "$pretty" "$final" "$pass_runs" "$fail_runs" "$elapsed"
@@ -1052,6 +1182,15 @@ while IFS= read -r cfg; do
         fi
     fi
 
+    # (6) Post-test settle sleep
+    case "$POST_TEST_SLEEP" in
+        ''|*[!0-9]* )
+            :
+            ;;
+        0) : ;;
+        *) log_info "Post-test sleep ${POST_TEST_SLEEP}s"; sleep "$POST_TEST_SLEEP" ;;
+    esac
+
     if [ "$MAX" -gt 0 ] && [ "$total" -ge "$MAX" ]; then
         log_info "Reached MAX=$MAX tests; stopping"
         break
diff --git a/Runner/utils/lib_video.sh b/Runner/utils/lib_video.sh
index b75791a5..f27d8f00 100755
--- a/Runner/utils/lib_video.sh
+++ b/Runner/utils/lib_video.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ VENUS_ENC_MOD="venus_enc"
 # Session-only blocks live under /run/modprobe.d
 RUNTIME_BLOCK_DIR="/run/modprobe.d"
 
+# Optional custom module sources (set by run.sh only when user opts in)
+# NOTE: Leaving these unset keeps the exact existing behavior.
+KO_DIRS="${KO_DIRS:-}" # colon-separated dirs containing .ko files
+KO_TREE="${KO_TREE:-}" # alt root containing lib/modules/$(uname -r)
+KO_PREFER_CUSTOM="${KO_PREFER_CUSTOM:-0}" # 1 = prefer KO_DIRS before system tree
+
 # Firmware path for Kodiak downstream blob
 FW_PATH_KODIAK="/lib/firmware/qcom/vpu/vpu20_p1_gen2.mbn"
 : "${FW_BACKUP_DIR:=/opt}"
@@ -132,12 +138,21 @@ video_insmod_with_deps() {
         if ! "$MODPROBE" -q "$d" 2>/dev/null; then
             dpath="$(video_find_module_file "$d")" || dpath=""
             if [ -n "$dpath" ] && [ -f "$dpath" ]; then
-                insmod "$dpath" 2>/dev/null || true
+                if insmod "$dpath" 2>/dev/null; then
+                    video_log_load_success "$d" dep-insmod "$dpath"
+                else
+                    log_warn "dep insmod failed for $dpath"
+                fi
+            else
+                log_warn "dep resolve failed for $d"
             fi
+        else
+            video_log_load_success "$d" dep-modprobe
         fi
     done
 
     if insmod "$path" 2>/dev/null; then
+        video_log_load_success "$m" insmod "$path"
         return 0
     fi
 
@@ -171,6 +186,9 @@ video_list_runtime_blocks() {
     fi
 }
 
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Path resolution & load logging helpers
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 video_dump_stack_state() {
     when="$1" # pre|post
 
@@ -188,44 +206,149 @@ video_dump_stack_state() {
     video_list_runtime_blocks
 }
 
+video_log_resolve() {
+    # usage: video_log_resolve <module> <how> <path>
+    # how: modinfo | system-tree | updates-tree | altroot-tree | ko-dir
+    m="$1"; how="$2"; p="$3"
+    case "$how" in
+        modinfo)
+            log_info "resolve-path: $m via modinfo -n => $p"
+            ;;
+        system-tree)
+            log_info "resolve-path: $m via /lib/modules => $p"
+            ;;
+        updates-tree)
+            log_info "resolve-path: $m via /lib/modules/*/updates => $p"
+            ;;
+        altroot-tree)
+            log_info "resolve-path: $m via KO_TREE => $p"
+            ;;
+        ko-dir)
+            log_info "resolve-path: $m via KO_DIRS => $p"
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+video_log_load_success() {
+    # usage: video_log_load_success <module> <how> [extra]
+    # how: modprobe-system | modprobe-altroot | insmod | dep-modprobe | dep-insmod
+    m="$1"; how="$2"; extra="$3"
+    case "$how" in
+        modprobe-system)
+            log_info "load-path: modprobe(system): $m"
+            ;;
+        modprobe-altroot)
+            log_info "load-path: modprobe(altroot=$KO_TREE): $m"
+            ;;
+        insmod)
+            # extra = path
+            log_info "load-path: insmod: $extra"
+            ;;
+        dep-modprobe)
+            log_info "load-path(dep): modprobe(system): $m"
+            ;;
+        dep-insmod)
+            # extra = path
+            log_info "load-path(dep): insmod: $extra"
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
 video_find_module_file() {
     # Resolve a module file path for a logical mod name (handles _ vs -).
     # Prefers: modinfo -n, then .../updates/, then general search.
     m="$1"
     kr="$(uname -r 2>/dev/null)"
-
+ 
     if [ -z "$kr" ]; then
         kr="$(find /lib/modules -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d -printf '%f\n' 2>/dev/null | head -n1)"
     fi
-
+ 
     if video_exist_cmd modinfo; then
         p="$(modinfo -n "$m" 2>/dev/null)"
         if [ -n "$p" ] && [ -f "$p" ]; then
+            video_log_resolve "$m" modinfo "$p"
             printf '%s\n' "$p"
             return 0
         fi
     fi
-
+ 
     m_us="$m"
     m_hy="$(printf '%s' "$m" | tr '_' '-')"
     m_alt="$(printf '%s' "$m" | tr '-' '_')"
-
+ 
+    # Helper to scan KO_DIRS (bounded search)
+    scan_ko_dirs() {
+        modbase="$1" # without .ko*
+        if [ -z "$KO_DIRS" ]; then
+            return 1
+        fi
+        OLD_IFS="$IFS"
+        IFS=':'
+        for d in $KO_DIRS; do
+            IFS="$OLD_IFS"
+            if [ -z "$d" ] || [ ! -d "$d" ]; then
+                continue
+            fi
+            p="$(find "$d" -maxdepth 3 -type f -name "${modbase}.ko*" -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
+            if [ -n "$p" ]; then
+                video_log_resolve "$m" ko-dir "$p"
+                printf '%s\n' "$p"
+                return 0
+            fi
+        done
+        IFS="$OLD_IFS"
+        return 1
+    }
+ 
+    # Optional order: prefer KO_DIRS first if requested
+    if [ "$KO_PREFER_CUSTOM" -eq 1 ] 2>/dev/null; then
+        for pat in "$m_us" "$m_hy" "$m_alt"; do
+            if scan_ko_dirs "$pat"; then
+                return 0
+            fi
+        done
+    fi
+ 
+    # Optional altroot tree (KO_TREE) first, if provided
+    if [ -n "$KO_TREE" ] && [ -d "$KO_TREE" ]; then
+        for pat in "$m_us" "$m_hy" "$m_alt"; do
+            p="$(find "$KO_TREE/lib/modules/$kr" -type f -name "${pat}.ko*" -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
+            if [ -n "$p" ]; then
+                video_log_resolve "$m" altroot-tree "$p"
+                printf '%s\n' "$p"
+                return 0
+            fi
+        done
+    fi
+ 
     for pat in "$m_us" "$m_hy" "$m_alt"; do
         p="$(find "/lib/modules/$kr/updates" -type f -name "${pat}.ko*" 2>/dev/null | head -n 1)"
         if [ -n "$p" ]; then
+            video_log_resolve "$m" updates-tree "$p"
             printf '%s\n' "$p"
             return 0
         fi
     done
-
+ 
     for pat in "$m_us" "$m_hy" "$m_alt"; do
         p="$(find "/lib/modules/$kr" -type f -name "${pat}.ko*" 2>/dev/null | head -n 1)"
         if [ -n "$p" ]; then
+            video_log_resolve "$m" system-tree "$p"
             printf '%s\n' "$p"
             return 0
         fi
     done
-
+ 
+    # If not preferred-first, still try KO_DIRS at the end
+    if [ "$KO_PREFER_CUSTOM" -ne 1 ] 2>/dev/null; then
+        for pat in "$m_us" "$m_hy" "$m_alt"; do
+            if scan_ko_dirs "$pat"; then
+                return 0
+            fi
+        done
+    fi
+ 
     return 1
 }
 
@@ -359,16 +482,24 @@ video_retry_modprobe() {
 
     while [ "$i" -lt "$n" ]; do
         i=$((i+1))
-        log_info "modprobe attempt $i/$n: $m"
 
         if video_has_module_loaded "$m"; then
             log_info "module became present before attempt $i: $m"
             return 0
         fi
 
-        if "$MODPROBE" "$m" 2>/dev/null; then
-            log_info "modprobe succeeded on attempt $i: $m"
-            return 0
+        if [ -n "$KO_TREE" ] && [ -d "$KO_TREE" ]; then
+            log_info "modprobe attempt $i/$n (altroot=$KO_TREE): $m"
+            if "$MODPROBE" -d "$KO_TREE" "$m" 2>/dev/null; then
+                video_log_load_success "$m" modprobe-altroot
+                return 0
+            fi
+        else
+            log_info "modprobe attempt $i/$n (system): $m"
+            if "$MODPROBE" "$m" 2>/dev/null; then
+                video_log_load_success "$m" modprobe-system
+                return 0
+            fi
         fi
 
         video_usleep "${MOD_RETRY_SLEEP}"
@@ -602,8 +733,8 @@ video_stack_status() {
     case "$plat" in
         lemans|monaco)
             # Upstream accepted if:
-            #   - pure upstream build: qcom_iris present and iris_vpu absent
-            #   - base+overlay build: qcom_iris and iris_vpu both present
+            # - pure upstream build: qcom_iris present and iris_vpu absent
+            # - base+overlay build: qcom_iris and iris_vpu both present
             if video_has_module_loaded qcom_iris && ! video_has_module_loaded iris_vpu; then
                 printf '%s\n' "upstream"
                 return 0
@@ -623,8 +754,8 @@ video_stack_status() {
  
         kodiak)
             # Upstream accepted if:
-            #   - Venus trio present (canonical upstream on Kodiak), OR
-            #   - pure upstream build: qcom_iris present and iris_vpu absent
+            # - Venus trio present (canonical upstream on Kodiak), OR
+            # - pure upstream build: qcom_iris present and iris_vpu absent
             if video_has_module_loaded venus_core && video_has_module_loaded venus_dec && video_has_module_loaded venus_enc; then
                 printf '%s\n' "upstream"
                 return 0
@@ -787,7 +918,7 @@ video_hot_switch_modules() {
 # Entry point: ensure desired stack
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 video_ensure_stack() {
-    want_raw="$1"  # upstream|downstream|auto|base|overlay|up|down
+    want_raw="$1" # upstream|downstream|auto|base|overlay|up|down
     plat="$2"
  
     if [ -z "$plat" ]; then
@@ -814,9 +945,9 @@ video_ensure_stack() {
     # ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Early no-op: if current state already equals desired, do NOT hot switch.
     # This covers:
-    #   - Build #1 (pure upstream: qcom_iris only) on lemans/monaco/kodiak
-    #   - Build #2 (base+overlay: qcom_iris + iris_vpu) when upstream is requested
-    #   - Downstream already active (e.g., iris_vpu only on lemans/monaco, or kodiak downstream)
+    # - Build #1 (pure upstream: qcom_iris only) on lemans/monaco/kodiak
+    # - Build #2 (base+overlay: qcom_iris + iris_vpu) when upstream is requested
+    # - Downstream already active (e.g., iris_vpu only on lemans/monaco, or kodiak downstream)
     # Still allow Kodiak downstream FW swap without touching modules.
     # ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     cur_state="$(video_stack_status "$plat")"