diff --git a/internal/addrs/module.go b/internal/addrs/module.go
index 3bfa818212..503adc356c 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/module.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/module.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2/hclsyntax"
+
 	"github.com/opentofu/opentofu/internal/tfdiags"
 )
 
@@ -196,6 +198,22 @@ func ParseModule(traversal hcl.Traversal) (Module, tfdiags.Diagnostics) {
 	return mod, diags
 }
 
+// ParseModuleStr is a helper wrapper around [ParseModule] that first tries
+// to parse the given string as HCL traversal syntax.
+func ParseModuleStr(str string) (Module, tfdiags.Diagnostics) {
+	var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
+
+	traversal, parseDiags := hclsyntax.ParseTraversalAbs([]byte(str), "", hcl.Pos{Line: 1, Column: 1})
+	diags = diags.Append(parseDiags)
+	if parseDiags.HasErrors() {
+		return nil, diags
+	}
+
+	addr, addrDiags := ParseModule(traversal)
+	diags = diags.Append(addrDiags)
+	return addr, diags
+}
+
 // parseModulePrefix parses a module address from the given traversal,
 // returning the module address and the remaining traversal.
 // For example, if the input traversal is ["module","a","module","b",
diff --git a/internal/addrs/module_instance.go b/internal/addrs/module_instance.go
index 1f051708af..3c573de69a 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/module_instance.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/module_instance.go
@@ -471,6 +471,42 @@ func (m ModuleInstance) Module() Module {
 	return ret
 }
 
+// HasSameModule returns true if calling [ModuleInstance.Module] on both
+// the receiver and the other given address would produce equal [Module]
+// addresses.
+//
+// This is here only as an optimization to avoid the overhead of constructing
+// two [Module] values just to compare them and then throw them away.
+func (m ModuleInstance) HasSameModule(other ModuleInstance) bool {
+	if len(m) != len(other) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for i := range m {
+		if m[i].Name != other[i].Name {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// HasSameModule returns true if calling [ModuleInstance.Module] on the
+// receiver would return a [Module] address equal to the one given as
+// an argument.
+//
+// This is here only as an optimization to avoid the overhead of constructing
+// a [Module] value from the reciever just to compare it and then throw it away.
+func (m ModuleInstance) IsForModule(module Module) bool {
+	if len(m) != len(module) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for i := range m {
+		if m[i].Name != module[i] {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func (m ModuleInstance) AddrType() TargetableAddrType {
 	return ModuleInstanceAddrType
 }
diff --git a/internal/addrs/module_instance_test.go b/internal/addrs/module_instance_test.go
index a8de77f8b6..5da6d4433c 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/module_instance_test.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/module_instance_test.go
@@ -83,6 +83,126 @@ func TestModuleInstanceEqual_false(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHasSameModule(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		a string
+		b string
+
+		wantSame bool
+	}{
+		{
+			"module.foo",
+			"module.bar",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo",
+			"module.foo.module.bar",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo[1]",
+			"module.bar[1]",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			`module.foo[1]`,
+			`module.foo["1"]`,
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo.module.bar",
+			"module.foo[1].module.bar",
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			`module.foo.module.bar`,
+			`module.foo["a"].module.bar`,
+			true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%#v.HasSameModule(%#v)", test.a, test.b), func(t *testing.T) {
+			a, diags := ParseModuleInstanceStr(test.a)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("invalid module instance address %s: %s", test.a, diags.Err())
+			}
+			b, diags := ParseModuleInstanceStr(test.b)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("invalid module instance address %s: %s", test.b, diags.Err())
+			}
+
+			// "HasSameModule" is commutative, so we'll test it both ways at once
+			gotAB := a.HasSameModule(b)
+			gotBA := b.HasSameModule(a)
+
+			if gotAB != test.wantSame {
+				t.Errorf("wrong result\n1st: %s\n2nd: %s\ngot:  %t\nwant: %t", a, b, gotAB, test.wantSame)
+			}
+			if gotBA != test.wantSame {
+				t.Errorf("wrong result\n1st: %s\n2nd: %s\ngot:  %t\nwant: %t", b, a, gotBA, test.wantSame)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsForModule(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		inst string
+		mod  string
+
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{
+			"module.foo",
+			"module.bar",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo",
+			"module.foo.module.bar",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo[1]",
+			"module.bar",
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			`module.foo[1]`,
+			`module.foo`,
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"module.foo[1].module.bar",
+			"module.foo.module.bar",
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			`module.foo["a"].module.bar`,
+			`module.foo.module.bar`,
+			true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%#v.IsForModule(%#v)", test.inst, test.mod), func(t *testing.T) {
+			inst, diags := ParseModuleInstanceStr(test.inst)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("invalid module instance address %s: %s", test.inst, diags.Err())
+			}
+			mod, diags := ParseModuleStr(test.mod)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("invalid module address %s: %s", test.mod, diags.Err())
+			}
+
+			got := inst.IsForModule(mod)
+			if got != test.want {
+				t.Errorf("wrong result\ninstance: %s\nmodule:   %s\ngot:  %t\nwant: %t", inst, mod, got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func BenchmarkStringShort(b *testing.B) {
 	addr, _ := ParseModuleInstanceStr(`module.foo`)
 	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
diff --git a/internal/addrs/module_test.go b/internal/addrs/module_test.go
index 9ef6b6576d..d07b1af3a6 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/module_test.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/module_test.go
@@ -176,3 +176,11 @@ func TestParseModule(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func mustParseModuleStr(str string) Module {
+	m, diags := ParseModuleStr(str)
+	if diags.HasErrors() {
+		panic(diags.ErrWithWarnings())
+	}
+	return m
+}
diff --git a/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module.go b/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module.go
index 1a7e838b83..b681365668 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module.go
@@ -727,17 +727,17 @@ func (from *MoveEndpointInModule) IsModuleReIndex(to *MoveEndpointInModule) bool
 			// the module call. We're not actually comparing indexes, so the
 			// instance doesn't matter.
 			callAddr := f.Instance(NoKey).Module()
-			return callAddr.Equal(t.Module())
+			return t.IsForModule(callAddr)
 		}
 
 	case ModuleInstance:
 		switch t := to.relSubject.(type) {
 		case AbsModuleCall:
 			callAddr := t.Instance(NoKey).Module()
-			return callAddr.Equal(f.Module())
+			return f.IsForModule(callAddr)
 
 		case ModuleInstance:
-			return t.Module().Equal(f.Module())
+			return t.HasSameModule(f)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module_test.go b/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module_test.go
index a5e6cdc8ee..55dabd9e44 100644
--- a/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module_test.go
+++ b/internal/addrs/move_endpoint_module_test.go
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ func TestSelectsModule(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Endpoint: &MoveEndpointInModule{
-				module: mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.foo").Module(),
+				module: mustParseModuleStr("module.foo"),
 				relSubject: AbsModuleCall{
 					Module: mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.bar[2]"),
 					Call:   ModuleCall{Name: "baz"},
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ func TestSelectsModule(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Endpoint: &MoveEndpointInModule{
-				module: mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.foo").Module(),
+				module: mustParseModuleStr("module.foo"),
 				relSubject: AbsModuleCall{
 					Module: mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.bar[2]"),
 					Call:   ModuleCall{Name: "baz"},
@@ -1407,7 +1407,7 @@ func TestSelectsModule(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Endpoint: &MoveEndpointInModule{
-				module:     mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.foo").Module(),
+				module:     mustParseModuleStr("module.foo"),
 				relSubject: mustParseAbsResourceInstanceStr(`module.bar.resource.name["key"]`),
 			},
 			Addr:    mustParseModuleInstanceStr(`module.foo[1].module.bar`),
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@ func TestSelectsModule(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Endpoint: &MoveEndpointInModule{
-				module:     mustParseModuleInstanceStr("module.nope").Module(),
+				module:     mustParseModuleStr("module.nope"),
 				relSubject: mustParseAbsResourceInstanceStr(`module.bar.resource.name["key"]`),
 			},
 			Addr:    mustParseModuleInstanceStr(`module.foo[1].module.bar`),
diff --git a/internal/states/state.go b/internal/states/state.go
index 3747a8eb7d..3b8f9e5e6c 100644
--- a/internal/states/state.go
+++ b/internal/states/state.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (s *State) Module(addr addrs.ModuleInstance) *Module {
 func (s *State) ModuleInstances(addr addrs.Module) []*Module {
 	var ms []*Module
 	for _, m := range s.Modules {
-		if m.Addr.Module().Equal(addr) {
+		if m.Addr.IsForModule(addr) {
 			ms = append(ms, m)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/internal/tofu/eval_context_builtin.go b/internal/tofu/eval_context_builtin.go
index 3b747f9d9c..5e2aebc354 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/eval_context_builtin.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/eval_context_builtin.go
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func (ctx *BuiltinEvalContext) CloseProvider(addr addrs.AbsProviderConfig) error
 
 func (ctx *BuiltinEvalContext) ConfigureProvider(addr addrs.AbsProviderConfig, providerKey addrs.InstanceKey, cfg cty.Value) tfdiags.Diagnostics {
 	var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
-	if !addr.Module.Equal(ctx.Path().Module()) {
+	if !ctx.Path().IsForModule(addr.Module) {
 		// This indicates incorrect use of ConfigureProvider: it should be used
 		// only from the module that the provider configuration belongs to.
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%s configured by wrong module %s", addr, ctx.Path()))
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func (ctx *BuiltinEvalContext) ProviderInput(pc addrs.AbsProviderConfig) map[str
 	ctx.ProviderLock.Lock()
 	defer ctx.ProviderLock.Unlock()
 
-	if !pc.Module.Equal(ctx.Path().Module()) {
+	if !ctx.Path().IsForModule(pc.Module) {
 		// This indicates incorrect use of InitProvider: it should be used
 		// only from the module that the provider configuration belongs to.
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%s initialized by wrong module %s", pc, ctx.Path()))
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ func (ctx *BuiltinEvalContext) EvaluateReplaceTriggeredBy(expr hcl.Expression, r
 	}
 
 	// Do some validation to make sure we are expecting a change at all
-	cfg := ctx.Evaluator.Config.Descendent(ctx.Path().Module())
+	cfg := ctx.Evaluator.Config.DescendentForInstance(ctx.Path())
 	resCfg := cfg.Module.ResourceByAddr(resourceAddr)
 	if resCfg == nil {
 		diags = diags.Append(&hcl.Diagnostic{
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ func (ctx *BuiltinEvalContext) EvaluationScope(self addrs.Referenceable, source
 		var providerKey addrs.InstanceKey
 		if providedBy.KeyExpression != nil && ctx.Evaluator.Operation != walkValidate {
 			moduleInstanceForKey := ctx.PathValue[:len(providedBy.KeyModule)]
-			if !moduleInstanceForKey.Module().Equal(providedBy.KeyModule) {
+			if !moduleInstanceForKey.IsForModule(providedBy.KeyModule) {
 				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid module key expression location %s in function %s", providedBy.KeyModule, pf.String()))
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract.go b/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract.go
index dd72875761..838d4b7cdf 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract.go
@@ -632,9 +632,7 @@ func graphNodesAreResourceInstancesInDifferentInstancesOfSameModule(a, b dag.Ver
 	}
 	aModInst := aRI.ResourceInstanceAddr().Module
 	bModInst := bRI.ResourceInstanceAddr().Module
-	aMod := aModInst.Module()
-	bMod := bModInst.Module()
-	if !aMod.Equal(bMod) {
+	if !aModInst.HasSameModule(bModInst) {
 		return false
 	}
 	return !aModInst.Equal(bModInst)
diff --git a/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract_instance.go b/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract_instance.go
index afe1bf6afb..896405cf9a 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract_instance.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/node_resource_abstract_instance.go
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func (n *NodeAbstractResourceInstance) resolveProvider(ctx EvalContext, hasExpan
 		} else {
 			// Resolved from module instance
 			moduleInstanceForKey := n.Addr.Module[:len(n.ResolvedProvider.KeyModule)]
-			if !moduleInstanceForKey.Module().Equal(n.ResolvedProvider.KeyModule) {
+			if !moduleInstanceForKey.IsForModule(n.ResolvedProvider.KeyModule) {
 				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid module key expression location %s in resource %s", n.ResolvedProvider.KeyModule, n.Addr))
 			}
 
@@ -1974,9 +1974,8 @@ func (n *NodeAbstractResourceInstance) dependenciesHavePendingChanges(ctx EvalCo
 
 		for _, change := range changes.GetChangesForConfigResource(d) {
 			changeModInst := change.Addr.Module
-			changeMod := changeModInst.Module()
 
-			if changeMod.Equal(nMod) && !changeModInst.Equal(nModInst) {
+			if changeModInst.IsForModule(nMod) && !changeModInst.Equal(nModInst) {
 				// Dependencies are tracked by configuration address, which
 				// means we may have changes from other instances of parent
 				// modules. The actual reference can only take effect within
diff --git a/internal/tofu/node_resource_deposed_test.go b/internal/tofu/node_resource_deposed_test.go
index 2b0623a63c..abdfbeaef8 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/node_resource_deposed_test.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/node_resource_deposed_test.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func initMockEvalContext(resourceAddrs string, deposedKey states.DeposedKey) (*M
 	state := states.NewState()
 	absResource := mustResourceInstanceAddr(resourceAddrs)
 
-	if !absResource.Module.Module().Equal(addrs.RootModule) {
+	if !absResource.Module.IsRoot() {
 		state.EnsureModule(addrs.RootModuleInstance.Child(absResource.Module[0].Name, absResource.Module[0].InstanceKey))
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/tofu/node_resource_plan_orphan_test.go b/internal/tofu/node_resource_plan_orphan_test.go
index 8f81f50da3..2c5c389bc8 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/node_resource_plan_orphan_test.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/node_resource_plan_orphan_test.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func TestNodeResourcePlanOrphan_Execute(t *testing.T) {
 		state := states.NewState()
 		absResource := mustResourceInstanceAddr(test.nodeAddress)
 
-		if !absResource.Module.Module().Equal(addrs.RootModule) {
+		if !absResource.Module.IsRoot() {
 			state.EnsureModule(addrs.RootModuleInstance.Child(absResource.Module[0].Name, absResource.Module[0].InstanceKey))
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/tofu/transform_removed_modules.go b/internal/tofu/transform_removed_modules.go
index f9405a0cc8..fa24b6f0cc 100644
--- a/internal/tofu/transform_removed_modules.go
+++ b/internal/tofu/transform_removed_modules.go
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ func (t *RemovedModuleTransformer) Transform(g *Graph) error {
 		if cc != nil {
 			continue
 		}
-		removed[m.Addr.Module().String()] = m.Addr.Module()
+		mod := m.Addr.Module()
+		removed[mod.String()] = mod
 		log.Printf("[DEBUG] %s is no longer in configuration\n", m.Addr)
 	}