diff --git a/lib/Firtool/Firtool.cpp b/lib/Firtool/Firtool.cpp
index 07d93548de3b..fe93765ce7e3 100644
--- a/lib/Firtool/Firtool.cpp
+++ b/lib/Firtool/Firtool.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ using namespace circt;
 
 LogicalResult firtool::populatePreprocessTransforms(mlir::PassManager &pm,
                                                     const FirtoolOptions &opt) {
+  pm.nest<firrtl::CircuitOp>().addPass(
+      firrtl::createCheckRecursiveInstantiation());
   // Legalize away "open" aggregates to hw-only versions.
   pm.nest<firrtl::CircuitOp>().addPass(firrtl::createLowerOpenAggsPass());