diff --git a/src/V3Dead.cpp b/src/V3Dead.cpp
index 4ca7c6424..ba7c08a8f 100644
--- a/src/V3Dead.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Dead.cpp
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ private:
 	    AstNodeModule* nextmodp;
 	    for (AstNodeModule* modp = v3Global.rootp()->modulesp(); modp; modp=nextmodp) {
 		nextmodp = modp->nextp()->castNodeModule();
-		if (modp->level()>2	&& modp->user1()==0) {
+		if (modp->level()>2	&& modp->user1()==0 && !modp->internal()) {
 		    // > 2 because L1 is the wrapper, L2 is the top user module
 		    UINFO(4,"  Dead module "<<modp<<endl);
 		    // And its children may now be killable too; correct counts