diff --git a/girepository/girmodule.c b/girepository/girmodule.c
index 500d749d4..da4519d7f 100644
--- a/girepository/girmodule.c
+++ b/girepository/girmodule.c
@@ -37,6 +37,15 @@
 
 #define NUM_SECTIONS 2
 
+/*< private >
+ * gi_ir_module_new:
+ * @name:
+ * @version:
+ * @shared_library: (nullable):
+ * @c_prefix:
+ *
+ * Since: 2.80
+ */
 GIIrModule *
 gi_ir_module_new (const char *name,
                   const char *version,
@@ -49,10 +58,7 @@ gi_ir_module_new (const char *name,
 
   module->name = g_strdup (name);
   module->version = g_strdup (version);
-  if (shared_library)
-      module->shared_library = g_strdup (shared_library);
-  else
-      module->shared_library = NULL;
+  module->shared_library = g_strdup (shared_library);
   module->c_prefix = g_strdup (c_prefix);
   module->dependencies = NULL;
   module->entries = NULL;