diff --git a/common.c b/common.c
index 03c6356..57518d9 100644
--- a/common.c
+++ b/common.c
@@ -1421,7 +1421,7 @@ end:
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
-// TODO: this doesn't necessarily have to be well designed at all
+// XXX: this doesn't necessarily have to be well designed at all
 
 typedef void (*config_module_load_fn)
 	(struct config_item_ *subtree, void *user_data);
@@ -1481,8 +1481,25 @@ config_register_module (struct config *self,
 	str_map_set (&self->modules, name, module);
 }
 
-static bool
-config_load (struct config *self, struct config_item_ *root, struct error **e)
+static void
+config_load (struct config *self, struct config_item_ *root)
 {
-	// TODO
+	hard_assert (root->type == CONFIG_ITEM_OBJECT);
+
+	struct str_map_iter iter;
+	str_map_iter_init (&iter, &self->modules);
+
+	struct config_module *module;
+	while ((module = str_map_iter_next (&iter)))
+	{
+		struct config_item_ *subtree = str_map_find
+			(&root->value.object, module->name);
+		// Silently fix inputs that only a lunatic user could create
+		if (!subtree || subtree->type != CONFIG_ITEM_OBJECT)
+		{
+			subtree = config_item_object ();
+			str_map_set (&root->value.object, module->name, subtree);
+		}
+		module->loader (subtree, module->user_data);
+	}
 }