diff --git a/src/module_compilation.ml b/src/module_compilation.ml
index f012743fa87..31ce4f3cf08 100644
--- a/src/module_compilation.ml
+++ b/src/module_compilation.ml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ let build_cm cctx ?sandbox ?(dynlink=true) ~dep_graphs
       let copy_interface () =
         (* symlink the .cmi into the public interface directory *)
         if not (Module.is_private m)
-        && (Obj_dir.has_public_cmi_dir obj_dir) then
+        && (Obj_dir.need_dedicated_public_dir obj_dir) then
           SC.add_rule sctx ~sandbox:false ~dir
             (Build.symlink
                ~src:(Module.cm_file_unsafe m Cmi)
diff --git a/src/obj_dir.ml b/src/obj_dir.ml
index 61777a34c02..8cd2e15e5e0 100644
--- a/src/obj_dir.ml
+++ b/src/obj_dir.ml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ module External = struct
     ; private_dir
     }
 
-  let has_public_cmi_dir t = Option.is_some t.private_dir
+  let need_dedicated_public_dir t = Option.is_some t.private_dir
 
   let public_cmi_dir t = t.public_dir
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ module Local = struct
     ; public_cmi_dir
     }
 
-  let has_public_cmi_dir t = Option.is_some t.public_cmi_dir
+  let need_dedicated_public_dir t = Option.is_some t.public_cmi_dir
 
   let public_cmi_dir t =
     Option.value ~default:t.byte_dir t.public_cmi_dir
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ type t =
   | External of External.t
   | Local of Local.t
 
-let has_public_cmi_dir = function
-  | External e -> External.has_public_cmi_dir e
-  | Local e -> Local.has_public_cmi_dir e
+let need_dedicated_public_dir = function
+  | External e -> External.need_dedicated_public_dir e
+  | Local e -> Local.need_dedicated_public_dir e
 
 let encode = function
   | Local obj_dir ->
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ let pp fmt t = Dyn.pp fmt (to_dyn t)
 let convert_to_external t ~dir =
   match t with
   | Local e ->
-    let has_private_modules = Local.has_public_cmi_dir e in
+    let has_private_modules = Local.need_dedicated_public_dir e in
     External (External.make ~dir ~has_private_modules)
   | External obj_dir ->
     Exn.code_error
diff --git a/src/obj_dir.mli b/src/obj_dir.mli
index 84ee29bb903..9d2f0752d46 100644
--- a/src/obj_dir.mli
+++ b/src/obj_dir.mli
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ val all_cmis: t -> Path.t list
 (** The public compiled cmi file directory *)
 val public_cmi_dir: t -> Path.t
 
-val has_public_cmi_dir : t -> bool
+val need_dedicated_public_dir : t -> bool
 
 val pp: t Fmt.t
 val to_sexp: t -> Sexp.t
diff --git a/src/virtual_rules.ml b/src/virtual_rules.ml
index b8aad0d515d..febc88f87bc 100644
--- a/src/virtual_rules.ml
+++ b/src/virtual_rules.ml
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ let setup_copy_rules_for_impl ~sctx ~dir vimpl =
   let copy_objs src =
     let dst = Module.set_obj_dir ~obj_dir:impl_obj_dir src in
     copy_obj_file ~src ~dst Cmi;
-    if Module.is_public dst && Obj_dir.has_public_cmi_dir impl_obj_dir
+    if Module.is_public dst && Obj_dir.need_dedicated_public_dir impl_obj_dir
     then begin
       let src = Module.cm_public_file_unsafe src Cmi in
       let dst = Module.cm_public_file_unsafe dst Cmi in