diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
index 3bf64451471..79692a9dc5c 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
@@ -90,6 +90,15 @@ def env_root_path():
     )
 
 
+def check_disallowed_env_config_mods(scopes):
+    for scope in scopes:
+        with spack.config.override(scope):
+            if spack.config.get("config:environments_root"):
+                raise SpackEnvironmentError("Need a good message")
+            else:
+                spack.config.print_section("config")
+    return scopes
+
 def default_manifest_yaml():
     """default spack.yaml file to put in new environments"""
     return """\
@@ -1039,17 +1048,9 @@ def env_file_config_scope(self):
             [spack.config.first_existing(self.raw_yaml, spack.schema.env.keys)],
         )
 
-    def _check_disallowed_env_config_mods(scopes):
-        for scope in scopes:
-            with spack.config.override(scope):
-                if spack.config.get("config:environments_root"):
-                    raise SpackEnvironmentError("Need a good message")
-                else:
-                    spack.config.print_section("config")
-
     def config_scopes(self):
         """A list of all configuration scopes for this environment."""
-        return _check_disallowed_env_config_mods(
+        return check_disallowed_env_config_mods(
             self.included_config_scopes() + [self.env_file_config_scope()]
         )
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/config.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/config.py
index 41bac1ad72f..1954a93e0f1 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/config.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/config.py
@@ -1478,6 +1478,11 @@ def test_environment_cant_modify_environments_root(tmpdir):
 """
         )
     with tmpdir.as_cwd():
-        env("create", "-d", tmpdir.strpath)
         with pytest.raises(ev.SpackEnvironmentError):
+            # Why does this raise?
+            e = ev.Environment(tmpdir.strpath)
+            ev.activate(e)
+        with pytest.raises(ev.SpackEnvironmentError):
+            # When this does not?
+            env("create", "-d", tmpdir.strpath)
             env("activate", "-d", tmpdir.strpath)