diff --git a/payu/envmod.py b/payu/envmod.py
index 57128f5f..2b7c98f3 100644
--- a/payu/envmod.py
+++ b/payu/envmod.py
@@ -185,6 +185,9 @@ def check_modulefile(modulefile: str) -> None:
     modules_avail = [line for line in output.strip().splitlines()
                      if not (line.startswith('/') and line.endswith(':'))]
 
+    # Remove () from end of modulefiles if they exist, e.g. (default)
+    modules_avail = [mod.rsplit('(', 1)[0] for mod in modules_avail]
+
     # Modules are used for finding model executable paths - so check
     # for unique module, or an exact match for the modulefile name
     if len(modules_avail) > 1 and modules_avail.count(modulefile) != 1:
diff --git a/test/test_envmod.py b/test/test_envmod.py
index 36103c9e..b911d6e6 100644
--- a/test/test_envmod.py
+++ b/test/test_envmod.py
@@ -20,6 +20,20 @@ def test_check_modulefile_without_version(mock_module_cmd):
     mock_module_cmd.return_value.stderr = """/path/to/modulefiles:
 test-module/1.0.0
 test-module/2.0.0
+test-module/3.0.1
+"""
+
+    # Expect an error raised
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+        check_modulefile('test-module')
+        exc_info.value.startswith(
+            "There are multiple modules available for test-module"
+        )
+
+    # Mock module avail command use debug in name
+    mock_module_cmd.return_value.stderr = """/path/to/modulefiles:
+test-module/1.0.0
+test-module/1.0.0-debug
 """
 
     # Expect an error raised
@@ -42,6 +56,27 @@ def test_check_modulefile_exact_match(mock_module_cmd):
     check_modulefile('test-module/1.0.0')
 
 
+@patch('payu.envmod.run_module_cmd')
+def test_check_modulefile_exact_match_with_symbolic_version(mock_module_cmd):
+    # Mock module avail command
+    mock_module_cmd.return_value.stderr = """/path/to/modulefiles:
+test-module/1.0.0(default)
+test-module/1.0.0-debug
+"""
+
+    # Test runs without an error
+    check_modulefile('test-module/1.0.0')
+
+    # Rerun test with another symbolic version/alias other than default
+    mock_module_cmd.return_value.stderr = """/path/to/modulefiles:
+test-module/1.0.0(some_symbolic_name_or_alias)
+test-module/1.0.0-debug
+"""
+
+    # Test runs without an error
+    check_modulefile('test-module/1.0.0')
+
+
 @patch('payu.envmod.run_module_cmd')
 def test_check_modulefile_multiple_modules(mock_module_cmd):
     # Mock module avail command