diff --git a/lib/optimize/ModuleConcatenationPlugin.js b/lib/optimize/ModuleConcatenationPlugin.js
index 62175a64f..1a8098487 100644
--- a/lib/optimize/ModuleConcatenationPlugin.js
+++ b/lib/optimize/ModuleConcatenationPlugin.js
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ class ModuleConcatenationPlugin {
 	apply(compiler) {
 		const { _backCompat: backCompat } = compiler;
 		compiler.hooks.compilation.tap("ModuleConcatenationPlugin", compilation => {
+			if (compilation.moduleMemCaches) {
+				throw new Error(
+					"optimization.concatenateModules can't be used with cacheUnaffected as module concatenation is a global effect"
+				);
+			}
 			const moduleGraph = compilation.moduleGraph;
 			const bailoutReasonMap = new Map();