diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/config.py b/lib/spack/spack/config.py
index ec37bd290c9..c3133697f42 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/config.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/config.py
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@
                     'autoload': {'$ref': '#/definitions/dependency_selection'},
                     'prerequisites': {'$ref': '#/definitions/dependency_selection'},
                     'conflict': {'$ref': '#/definitions/array_of_strings'},
+                    'load': {'$ref': '#/definitions/array_of_strings'},
                     'environment': {
                         'type': 'object',
                         'default': {},
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/modules.py b/lib/spack/spack/modules.py
index d2b819e80ac..9fa92a593f6 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/modules.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/modules.py
@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ def write(self):
         for x in filter_blacklisted(
                 module_configuration.pop('autoload', []), self.name):
             module_file_content += self.autoload(x)
+        for x in module_configuration.pop('load', []):
+            module_file_content += self.autoload(x)
         for x in filter_blacklisted(
                 module_configuration.pop('prerequisites', []), self.name):
             module_file_content += self.prerequisite(x)
@@ -402,8 +404,12 @@ def module_specific_content(self, configuration):
         return tuple()
 
     def autoload(self, spec):
-        m = type(self)(spec)
-        return self.autoload_format.format(module_file=m.use_name)
+        if not isinstance(spec, str):
+            m = type(self)(spec)
+            module_file = m.use_name
+        else:
+            module_file = spec
+        return self.autoload_format.format(module_file=module_file)
 
     def prerequisite(self, spec):
         m = type(self)(spec)