diff --git a/config/module/tree.go b/config/module/tree.go
index 6e6d30e0a..e92361180 100644
--- a/config/module/tree.go
+++ b/config/module/tree.go
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/config"
 )
 
+// RootName is the name of the root tree.
+const RootName = "root"
+
 // Tree represents the module import tree of configurations.
 //
 // This Tree structure can be used to get (download) new modules, load
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ func (t *Tree) Modules() []*Module {
 // tree and then the module name given for any children.
 func (t *Tree) Name() string {
 	if t.name == "" {
-		return "<root>"
+		return RootName
 	}
 
 	return t.name
diff --git a/config/module/tree_test.go b/config/module/tree_test.go
index 95c481dde..7ac574ec4 100644
--- a/config/module/tree_test.go
+++ b/config/module/tree_test.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestTreeName(t *testing.T) {
 	tree := NewTree("", testConfig(t, "basic"))
 	actual := tree.Name()
 
-	if actual != "<root>" {
+	if actual != RootName {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", actual)
 	}
 }
@@ -150,6 +150,6 @@ func TestTreeValidate_notLoaded(t *testing.T) {
 
 
 const treeLoadStr = `
-<root>
+root
   foo
 `