diff --git a/core/src/com/google/inject/util/Modules.java b/core/src/com/google/inject/util/Modules.java
index 4b5e9c9987..e6f4a53b4d 100644
--- a/core/src/com/google/inject/util/Modules.java
+++ b/core/src/com/google/inject/util/Modules.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
 import com.google.errorprone.annotations.CheckReturnValue;
+import com.google.errorprone.annotations.InlineMe;
 import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
 import com.google.inject.Binder;
 import com.google.inject.Binding;
@@ -122,7 +123,10 @@ public static Module combine(Module... modules) {
     return combine(ImmutableSet.copyOf(modules));
   }
 
-  /** @deprecated there's no need to "combine" one module; just install it directly. */
+  /**
+   * @deprecated there's no need to "combine" one module; just install it directly.
+   */
+  @InlineMe(replacement = "module")
   @Deprecated
   public static Module combine(Module module) {
     return module;