diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/modules/lmod.py b/lib/spack/spack/modules/lmod.py
index 81c3e74c42..812d4fcc9e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/modules/lmod.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/modules/lmod.py
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ def core_specs(self):
         """Returns the list of "Core" specs"""
         return configuration(self.name).get("core_specs", [])
 
+    @property
+    def filter_hierarchy_specs(self):
+        """Returns the dict of specs with modified hierarchies"""
+        return configuration(self.name).get("filter_hierarchy_specs", {})
+
     @property
     def hierarchy_tokens(self):
         """Returns the list of tokens that are part of the modulefile
@@ -160,11 +165,21 @@ def requires(self):
         if any(self.spec.satisfies(core_spec) for core_spec in self.core_specs):
             return {"compiler": self.core_compilers[0]}
 
+        hierarchy_filter_list = []
+        for spec, filter_list in self.filter_hierarchy_specs.items():
+            if self.spec.satisfies(spec):
+                hierarchy_filter_list = filter_list
+                break
+
         # Keep track of the requirements that this package has in terms
         # of virtual packages that participate in the hierarchical structure
         requirements = {"compiler": self.spec.compiler}
         # For each virtual dependency in the hierarchy
         for x in self.hierarchy_tokens:
+            # Skip anything filtered for this spec
+            if x in hierarchy_filter_list:
+                continue
+
             # If I depend on it
             if x in self.spec and not self.spec.package.provides(x):
                 requirements[x] = self.spec[x]  # record the actual provider
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/schema/modules.py b/lib/spack/spack/schema/modules.py
index 975b512c7f..261065c8b3 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/schema/modules.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/schema/modules.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #: THIS NEEDS TO BE UPDATED FOR EVERY NEW KEYWORD THAT
 #: IS ADDED IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE MODULE TYPE ATTRIBUTE
 spec_regex = (
-    r"(?!hierarchy|core_specs|verbose|hash_length|defaults|"
+    r"(?!hierarchy|core_specs|verbose|hash_length|defaults|filter_hierarchy_specs|"
     r"whitelist|blacklist|"  # DEPRECATED: remove in 0.20.
     r"include|exclude|"  # use these more inclusive/consistent options
     r"projections|naming_scheme|core_compilers|all)(^\w[\w-]*)"
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@
                     "core_compilers": array_of_strings,
                     "hierarchy": array_of_strings,
                     "core_specs": array_of_strings,
+                    "filter_hierarchy_specs": {
+                        "type": "object",
+                        "patternProperties": {spec_regex: array_of_strings},
+                    },
                 },
             },  # Specific lmod extensions
         ]
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/data/modules/lmod/complex_hierarchy.yaml b/lib/spack/spack/test/data/modules/lmod/complex_hierarchy.yaml
index cb39ecfa92..618163de01 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/data/modules/lmod/complex_hierarchy.yaml
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/data/modules/lmod/complex_hierarchy.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ lmod:
     - blas
     - mpi
 
+  filter_hierarchy_specs:
+    'mpileaks@:2.1': [mpi]
+
   verbose: false
 
   all:
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/modules/lmod.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/modules/lmod.py
index 3ba4953844..30e1b58905 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/modules/lmod.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/modules/lmod.py
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ def compiler(request):
         ("mpich@3.0.1", []),
         ("openblas@0.2.15", ("blas",)),
         ("openblas-with-lapack@0.2.15", ("blas", "lapack")),
+        ("mpileaks@2.3", ("mpi",)),
+        ("mpileaks@2.1", []),
     ]
 )
 def provider(request):
@@ -69,12 +71,20 @@ def test_file_layout(self, compiler, provider, factory, module_configuration):
         path_parts = layout.available_path_parts
         service_part = spec_string.replace("@", "/")
         service_part = "-".join([service_part, layout.spec.dag_hash(length=7)])
-        assert service_part in path_parts
+
+        if "mpileaks" in spec_string:
+            # It's a user, not a provider, so create the provider string
+            service_part = layout.spec["mpi"].format("{name}/{version}-{hash:7}")
+        else:
+            # Only relevant for providers, not users, of virtuals
+            assert service_part in path_parts
 
         # Check that multi-providers have repetitions in path parts
         repetitions = len([x for x in path_parts if service_part == x])
         if spec_string == "openblas-with-lapack@0.2.15":
             assert repetitions == 2
+        elif spec_string == "mpileaks@2.1":
+            assert repetitions == 0
         else:
             assert repetitions == 1