diff --git a/packages/kit/src/module/install.ts b/packages/kit/src/module/install.ts
index aa841fa3b7..7b2a6bb29c 100644
--- a/packages/kit/src/module/install.ts
+++ b/packages/kit/src/module/install.ts
@@ -118,6 +118,11 @@ export async function loadNuxtModuleInstance (nuxtModule: string | NuxtModule, n
     }
   }
 
+  // Throw error if module could not be found
+  if (typeof nuxtModule === 'string') {
+    throw new TypeError(`Could not load \`${nuxtModule}\`. Is it installed?`)
+  }
+
   // Throw error if input is not a function
   if (typeof nuxtModule !== 'function') {
     throw new TypeError('Nuxt module should be a function: ' + nuxtModule)