Linux won't autoload kernel module - embedded-linux

Question

I created a basic kernel module that I plan to use eventually for a timing analysis. I am running a v4.14.149 mainline kernel and am building it with Yocto Zeus running on an i.MX6 target. I can't seem to get it to launch automatically.
Everything compiles fine, and I see my testmodule.ko show up in /lib/modules/4.14.149/extras/ on target. I can load it and unload it just fine with insmod and rmmod so I am pretty sure the module is OK. I also see a testmodule.conf file that contains the module name (testmodule) in /etc/modules-load.d/ but when I boot and do a lsmod I don't see it loaded. I also don't see any output in journalctl that would indicate that it loaded.
I have looked at and tried Yocto: Adding kernel module recipe to image, but it doesn't load on boot and Yocto load kernel module and have added KERNEL_MODULE_AUTOLOAD += "testmodule" in my machine configuration and I also tried it in the module recipe to no avail. I am including the module in my image recipe via IMAGE_INSTALL_append as kernel-module-test.
Here is the recipe for my module:
SUMMARY = "Test kernel module"
LICENSE = "CLOSED"
inherit module
SRC_URI = "file://Makefile \
file://testmodule.c"
S = "${WORKDIR}"
KERNEL_MODULE_AUTOLOAD += "testmodule"
RPROVIDES_${PN} += "kernel-module-test"
The module code at the moment just prints a message (it was a sample from a Yocto book I had) and that is it:
#include <linux/kernel.h>
#include <linux/init.h>
#include <linux/module.h>
/*
** Module Init function
*/
static int hello_world_init(void)
{
printk("Markem Kernel Module Inserted Successfully...\n");
return 0;
}
/*
** Module Exit function
*/
static void hello_world_exit(void)
{
printk("Markem Kernel Module Removed Successfully...\n");
}
module_init(hello_world_init);
module_exit(hello_world_exit);
MODULE_LICENSE("Proprietary");
/*
MODULE_VERSION("0.1");
MODULE_DESCRIPTION("A test module.");
MODULE_AUTHOR("Markem-Imaje Corporation");
*/
And lastly the Makefile, which is also based on the Yocto Book sample
obj-m := testmodule.o
SRC := $(shell pwd)
all:
$(MAKE) -C $(KERNEL_SRC) M=$(SRC)
modules_install:
$(MAKE) -C $(KERNEL_SRC) M=$(SRC) modules_install
clean:
rm -f *.o *~ core .depend .*.cmd *.ko *.mod.c
rm -f Module.markers Module.symvers modules.order
rm -rf .tmp_versions Modules.symvers
If you need the recipe for my kernel or my machine conf or anything, I can get those. Everything I have read indicates that having the file in /etc/modules-load.d/ indicates it should load automatically. Is there possibly a kernel configuration I am missing or something?