diff --git a/reframe/core/modules.py b/reframe/core/modules.py
index e4cc552310..aa86ca423a 100644
--- a/reframe/core/modules.py
+++ b/reframe/core/modules.py
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ def modulecmd(self, *args):
     def _execute(self, cmd, *args):
         modulecmd = self.modulecmd(cmd, *args)
         completed = osext.run_command(modulecmd)
-        if re.search(r'ERROR', completed.stderr) is not None:
+        if re.search(r'\bERROR\b', completed.stderr) is not None:
             raise SpawnedProcessError(modulecmd,
                                       completed.stdout,
                                       completed.stderr,
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ def modulecmd(self, *args):
     def _execute(self, cmd, *args):
         modulecmd = self.modulecmd(cmd, *args)
         completed = osext.run_command(modulecmd)
-        if re.search(r'ERROR', completed.stderr) is not None:
+        if re.search(r'\bERROR\b', completed.stderr) is not None:
             raise SpawnedProcessError(modulecmd,
                                       completed.stdout,
                                       completed.stderr,
diff --git a/unittests/modules/testmod_bar b/unittests/modules/testmod_bar
index 8fa8337d64..a710ba6c43 100644
--- a/unittests/modules/testmod_bar
+++ b/unittests/modules/testmod_bar
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ conflict testmod_foo
 conflict testmod_boo
 
 setenv TESTMOD_BAR "BAR"
+setenv TESTMOD_ERROR "BARERROR"