Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Strange bash error: "error importing function definition for `BASH_FUNC_module'"

Bash error importing function definition for BASH_FUNC_module

Quick Answer: The workaround is to use the `bash --version` command with the `-c` option to specify a script that does not contain the problematic line, or upgrade to Bash version 4.2.0 or later.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'error importing function definition for BASH_FUNC_module' is encountered when trying to run a bash script in certain versions of Bash. This issue affects users who have upgraded their system to a newer version of Bash, which includes the Shellshock patch.

This error can be frustrating because it prevents the script from running smoothly and displays an error message instead of executing the intended commands. However, there is a workaround to resolve this issue without requiring control over installed packages.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is the Shellshock patch, which was introduced in Bash version 4.1.2 and later versions. The patch introduces a new security feature that prevents the evaluation of user-provided input as shell commands, but it also causes issues with certain bash scripts.
  • An alternative reason for this error could be due to other modifications or patches made to the Bash interpreter, which may not be compatible with the script being executed.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Enabling Bash version compatibility mode

  1. Step 1: To resolve the issue, you can enable Bash version compatibility mode by adding the following line at the top of your bash script: `#!/usr/bin/env bash -c` This will ensure that the script is run with a compatible version of Bash.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can also specify the Bash version to use when running the script using the `bash --version` command followed by the path to the script. For example: `bash --version ./a.bash`
  3. Step 3: If you are unable to make these changes to your script, you may need to consider recompiling or rewriting the script to be compatible with the current version of Bash.

Upgrading to a newer version of Bash

  1. Step 1: Another possible solution is to upgrade to a newer version of Bash that includes patches and fixes for the Shellshock vulnerability. You can check the official Bash website for the latest release notes and installation instructions.
  2. Step 2: However, this approach may not be feasible if you are unable to control the installed packages on your system.

💡 Conclusion

In summary, the error 'error importing function definition for BASH_FUNC_module' is caused by the Shellshock patch in newer versions of Bash. To resolve this issue, you can enable Bash version compatibility mode or upgrade to a newer version of Bash that includes patches and fixes for the vulnerability.

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