diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/modules.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/modules.py
index bf5555d9d48..99cc280d27c 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/modules.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/modules.py
@@ -68,6 +68,24 @@ def mock_open(filename, mode):
     }
 }
 
+configuration_prerequisites_direct = {
+    'enable': ['tcl'],
+    'tcl': {
+        'all': {
+            'prerequisites': 'direct'
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+configuration_prerequisites_all = {
+    'enable': ['tcl'],
+    'tcl': {
+        'all': {
+            'prerequisites': 'all'
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 configuration_alter_environment = {
     'enable': ['tcl'],
     'tcl': {
@@ -187,6 +205,17 @@ def test_autoload(self):
         self.assertEqual(len([x for x in content if 'is-loaded' in x]), 5)
         self.assertEqual(len([x for x in content if 'module load ' in x]), 5)
 
+    def test_prerequisites(self):
+        spack.modules.CONFIGURATION = configuration_prerequisites_direct
+        spec = spack.spec.Spec('mpileaks arch=x86-linux')
+        content = self.get_modulefile_content(spec)
+        self.assertEqual(len([x for x in content if 'prereq' in x]), 2)
+
+        spack.modules.CONFIGURATION = configuration_prerequisites_all
+        spec = spack.spec.Spec('mpileaks arch=x86-linux')
+        content = self.get_modulefile_content(spec)
+        self.assertEqual(len([x for x in content if 'prereq' in x]), 5)
+
     def test_alter_environment(self):
         spack.modules.CONFIGURATION = configuration_alter_environment
         spec = spack.spec.Spec('mpileaks arch=x86-linux')