diff --git a/python/triton/runtime/interpreter.py b/python/triton/runtime/interpreter.py
index e6942d470f8a..d4a09ffaf8ba 100644
--- a/python/triton/runtime/interpreter.py
+++ b/python/triton/runtime/interpreter.py
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ def _set_attr(input, values, name):
 
 
 def _patch_lang(fn):
-    langs = [value for _, value in fn.__globals__.items() if value in [tl, tl.core]]
+    langs = [value for _, value in fn.__globals__.items() if inspect.ismodule(value) and value in [tl, tl.core]]
     assert len(langs) >= 1, "triton.language must be visible from within jit'd function"
     for lang in langs:
         _patch_builtin(lang, interpreter_builder)