diff --git a/compiler/passes.nim b/compiler/passes.nim
index 378c61f97d..88443e989f 100644
--- a/compiler/passes.nim
+++ b/compiler/passes.nim
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ proc prepareConfigNotes(graph: ModuleGraph; module: PSym) =
     if graph.config.mainPackageNotes == {}: graph.config.mainPackageNotes = graph.config.notes
     graph.config.notes = graph.config.foreignPackageNotes
 
+proc moduleHasChanged*(graph: ModuleGraph; module: PSym): bool {.inline.} =
+  result = module.id >= 0
+
 proc processModule*(graph: ModuleGraph; module: PSym, stream: PLLStream): bool {.discardable.} =
   if graph.stopCompile(): return true
   var
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ proc processModule*(graph: ModuleGraph; module: PSym, stream: PLLStream): bool {
     s: PLLStream
     fileIdx = module.fileIdx
   prepareConfigNotes(graph, module)
-  if module.id < 0:
+  if not moduleHasChanged(graph, module):
     # new module caching mechanism:
     for i in 0 ..< graph.passes.len:
       if not isNil(graph.passes[i].open) and not graph.passes[i].isFrontend: