diff --git a/src/closure-externs/closure-externs.js b/src/closure-externs/closure-externs.js
index 00aa5a9a158d9..99f417710e6d5 100644
--- a/src/closure-externs/closure-externs.js
+++ b/src/closure-externs/closure-externs.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 // Special placeholder for `import.meta` and `await import`.
 var EMSCRIPTEN$IMPORT$META;
 var EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT$IMPORT;
+var EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT;
 
 // Don't minify createRequire
 var createRequire;
diff --git a/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.gzsize b/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.gzsize
index 06415b870d0fc..2107c66fb6bb4 100644
--- a/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.gzsize
+++ b/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.gzsize
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1437
+1429
diff --git a/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.jssize b/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.jssize
index 4448785bdb2ae..3a874affa19d0 100644
--- a/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.jssize
+++ b/test/other/codesize/test_codesize_minimal_esm.jssize
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2982
+2967
diff --git a/test/test_other.py b/test/test_other.py
index bfb906229f023..88e9772365a87 100644
--- a/test/test_other.py
+++ b/test/test_other.py
@@ -7170,6 +7170,9 @@ class Descriptor {
     self.run_process([EMXX, 'src.cpp', '-O2', '-sEXPORT_ALL'])
     self.assertExists('a.out.js')
 
+  def test_modularize_legacy(self):
+    self.do_runf('hello_world.c', emcc_args=['-sMODULARIZE', '-sLEGACY_VM_SUPPORT'])
+
   def test_emmake_emconfigure(self):
     def check(what, args, fail=True, expect=''):
       args = [what] + args
diff --git a/tools/emscripten.py b/tools/emscripten.py
index d33b4c97cffb2..843de819d0e9a 100644
--- a/tools/emscripten.py
+++ b/tools/emscripten.py
@@ -872,13 +872,7 @@ def create_sending(metadata, library_symbols):
 
 
 def can_use_await():
-  # In MODULARIZE mode we can use `await` since the factory function itself
-  # is marked as `async` and the generated code all lives inside that factory
-  # function.
-  # However, because closure does not see this (it runs only on the inner code),
-  # it sees this as a top-level-await, which it does not yet support.
-  # FIXME(https://github.com/emscripten-core/emscripten/issues/23158)
-  return settings.MODULARIZE and not settings.USE_CLOSURE_COMPILER
+  return settings.MODULARIZE
 
 
 def make_export_wrappers(function_exports):
@@ -988,7 +982,10 @@ def create_module(receiving, metadata, global_exports, library_symbols):
     if settings.WASM_ASYNC_COMPILATION:
       if can_use_await():
         # In modularize mode the generated code is within a factory function.
-        module.append("var wasmExports = await createWasm();\n")
+        # This magic string gets replaced by `await createWasm`.  It needed to allow
+        # closure and acorn to process the module without seeing this as a top-level
+        # await.
+        module.append("var wasmExports = EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT(createWasm());\n")
       else:
         module.append("var wasmExports;\ncreateWasm();\n")
     else:
diff --git a/tools/link.py b/tools/link.py
index eecc827331c64..35245969890c6 100644
--- a/tools/link.py
+++ b/tools/link.py
@@ -2086,13 +2086,15 @@ def phase_source_transforms(options):
 # both main code and libraries.
 # See also: `preprocess` in parseTools.js.
 def fix_es6_import_statements(js_file):
-  if not settings.EXPORT_ES6:
+  if not settings.MODULARIZE:
     return
 
   src = read_file(js_file)
   write_file(js_file, src
              .replace('EMSCRIPTEN$IMPORT$META', 'import.meta')
-             .replace('EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT$IMPORT', 'await import'))
+             .replace('EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT$IMPORT', 'await import')
+             .replace('EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT(createWasm())', 'await createWasm()')
+             .replace('EMSCRIPTEN$AWAIT(', 'await ('))
   save_intermediate('es6-module')