diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index 956ce44..9ae11a5 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -9510,7 +9510,8 @@
 		}
 	    }
 	}
-	p = find_ex_command(&ea, NULL, starts_with_colon
+	p = find_ex_command(&ea, NULL,
+		starts_with_colon || (local_cmdmod.cmod_flags & CMOD_LEGACY)
 						  ? NULL : item_exists, &cctx);
 
 	if (p == NULL)