diff --git a/lib/modules.nix b/lib/modules.nix
index caabfee5710..bd39e8666eb 100644
--- a/lib/modules.nix
+++ b/lib/modules.nix
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ rec {
         }
     else
       # shorthand syntax
-      lib.throwIfNot (isAttrs m) "module ${file} (${key}) does not look like a module."
+      if ! (isAttrs m) then throw "module ${file} (${key}) does not look like a module." else
       { _file = toString m._file or file;
         key = toString m.key or key;
         disabledModules = m.disabledModules or [];