diff --git a/manifests/config/module.pp b/manifests/config/module.pp
index 5e8ee4fc..de5e66fc 100644
--- a/manifests/config/module.pp
+++ b/manifests/config/module.pp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
   if $system {
     $module_dir = 'system/layers/base'
+  } else {
+    $module_dir = ''
   }
 
   File {