diff --git a/aqt/pinnedmodules.py b/aqt/pinnedmodules.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad26098de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aqt/pinnedmodules.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Copyright: Damien Elmes <anki@ichi2.net>
+# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+# this file is imported as part of the bundling process to ensure certain
+# modules are included in the distribution
+
+# required by requests library
+import queue
+
+from anki.utils import isWin
+
+# external module access in Windows
+if isWin:
+    import pythoncom
+    import win32com
+    import pywintypes
+
+# included implicitly in the past, and relied upon by some add-ons
+import cgi
+import uuid