diff --git a/micropip/_vendored/__init__.py b/micropip/_vendored/__init__.py
index 55e8914..715c9f0 100644
--- a/micropip/_vendored/__init__.py
+++ b/micropip/_vendored/__init__.py
@@ -70,21 +70,32 @@ def _create_module(name, package_path=None):
 ####################################################
 
 # 1. First, handle any packages: these are directories with __init__.py.
+# 2. Then, we load all the internal modules
+# 3. Finally, we'll load all the regular modules (whatever is in the
+# public API)
+#
+# While rudimentary, this order is important because the internal modules
+# may depend on subpackages, and regular modules may depend on internal ones.
+#
+# For example, the metadata.py module imports from licenses, requirements,
+# specifiers, and utils.
+#
+# Similarly, tags.py needs _manylinux and _musllinux to be available.
+
+
 for path in PACKAGING_PATH.glob("*/__init__.py"):
     package_name = path.parent.name
     module = _create_module(f"{package_name}/__init__", path)
     setattr(packaging_vendored, package_name, module)
     setattr(packaging_direct, package_name, module)
 
-# 2. Then, we load all the internal modules
 internal_modules = [path.stem for path in PACKAGING_PATH.glob("_*.py")]
 for name in internal_modules:
     module = _create_module(name)
     setattr(packaging_vendored, name, module)
     setattr(packaging_direct, name, module)
 
-# 3. Finally, we'll load all the regular modules (whatever is in the
-# public API)
+
 for path in PACKAGING_PATH.glob("*.py"):
     if path.stem == "__init__" or path.stem.startswith("_"):
         continue