Ubuntu 22.04 LTS – NVIDIA driver fails under Secure Boot module signing – Fix & Prevention

📖 ~1 min read

Table of contents

1. Symptom & Impact
2. Environment & Reproduction
3. Root Cause Analysis
4. Quick Triage
5. Step-by-Step Diagnosis
6. Solution – Primary Fix
7. Solution – Alternative Approaches
8. Verification & Acceptance Criteria
9. Rollback Plan
10. Prevention & Hardening
11. Related Errors & Cross-Refs
12. References & Further Reading

Symptom & Impact

GPU acceleration is unavailable and desktop session may fail because proprietary module does not load.

Environment & Reproduction

Appears after driver updates on systems with Secure Boot enabled.

Root Cause Analysis

Kernel refuses unsigned DKMS modules, and MOK enrollment is missing or incomplete.

Quick Triage

Verify module signature and Secure Boot state before reinstalling packages.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

Check enrollment records and DKMS status to confirm signing path.

Solution – Primary Fix

Rebuild and sign NVIDIA modules, enroll MOK during reboot, then verify module load.

Solution – Alternative Approaches

Disable Secure Boot in firmware only where organizational policy permits and risk is accepted.

Verification & Acceptance Criteria

nvidia module loads cleanly and graphics stack reports expected acceleration.

Rollback Plan

Return to previous kernel/driver combination if signed module path fails repeatedly.

Prevention & Hardening

Document MOK enrollment process and include Secure Boot checks in GPU host maintenance runbooks.

Related Errors & Cross-Refs

Commonly linked with black screen at boot and DKMS build failures after kernel updates.

Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

View all Ubuntu 22.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →

Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.

References & Further Reading

Ubuntu Secure Boot, DKMS, and MOK enrollment documentation.