diff --git a/test/test_other.py b/test/test_other.py
index 1459f1f34a040..c4213a549fef0 100644
--- a/test/test_other.py
+++ b/test/test_other.py
@@ -1928,7 +1928,7 @@ def test_export_from_archive(self):
   @parameterized({
     'embed': (['--embed-file', 'somefile.txt'],),
     'embed_twice': (['--embed-file', 'somefile.txt', '--embed-file', 'somefile.txt'],),
-    'preload': (['--preload-file', 'somefile.txt'],),
+    'preload': (['--preload-file', 'somefile.txt', '-sSTRICT'],),
     'preload_closure': (['--preload-file', 'somefile.txt', '-O2', '--closure=1'],),
     'preload_and_embed': (['--preload-file', 'somefile.txt', '--embed-file', 'hello.txt'],)
   })
diff --git a/tools/link.py b/tools/link.py
index 7f8d25926e2d4..b7759ff0b0b24 100644
--- a/tools/link.py
+++ b/tools/link.py
@@ -1206,6 +1206,10 @@ def phase_linker_setup(options, state, newargs):
     # if we include any files, or intend to use preload plugins, then we definitely need filesystem support
     settings.FORCE_FILESYSTEM = 1
 
+  if options.preload_files:
+    # File preloading uses `Module['preRun']`.
+    settings.INCOMING_MODULE_JS_API.append('preRun')
+
   if settings.FORCE_FILESYSTEM and not settings.FILESYSTEM:
     exit_with_error('`-sFORCE_FILESYSTEM` cannot be used with `-sFILESYSTEM=0`')