diff --git a/lib/default.nix b/lib/default.nix
index 9c6f886c9ee4..ef0bb60ab8c5 100644
--- a/lib/default.nix
+++ b/lib/default.nix
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ let
 
     # TODO: For consistency, all builtins should also be available from a sub-library;
     # these are the only ones that are currently not
-    inherit (builtins) addErrorContext isPath trace;
+    inherit (builtins) addErrorContext isPath trace typeOf unsafeGetAttrPos;
     inherit (self.trivial) id const pipe concat or and xor bitAnd bitOr bitXor
       bitNot boolToString mergeAttrs flip mapNullable inNixShell isFloat min max
       importJSON importTOML warn warnIf warnIfNot throwIf throwIfNot checkListOfEnum
diff --git a/lib/modules.nix b/lib/modules.nix
index 79892f50c4fe..b9e9ca1e5d78 100644
--- a/lib/modules.nix
+++ b/lib/modules.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 let
   inherit (lib)
+    addErrorContext
     all
     any
     attrByPath
@@ -13,13 +14,16 @@ let
     elem
     filter
     foldl'
+    functionArgs
     getAttrFromPath
+    genericClosure
     head
     id
     imap1
     isAttrs
     isBool
     isFunction
+    isInOldestRelease
     isList
     isString
     length
@@ -32,9 +36,17 @@ let
     optionalString
     recursiveUpdate
     reverseList sort
+    seq
     setAttrByPath
+    substring
+    throwIfNot
+    trace
+    typeOf
     types
+    unsafeGetAttrPos
+    warn
     warnIf
+    zipAttrs
     zipAttrsWith
     ;
   inherit (lib.options)
@@ -89,8 +101,8 @@ let
                 }:
     let
       withWarnings = x:
-        lib.warnIf (evalModulesArgs?args) "The args argument to evalModules is deprecated. Please set config._module.args instead."
-        lib.warnIf (evalModulesArgs?check) "The check argument to evalModules is deprecated. Please set config._module.check instead."
+        warnIf (evalModulesArgs?args) "The args argument to evalModules is deprecated. Please set config._module.args instead."
+        warnIf (evalModulesArgs?check) "The check argument to evalModules is deprecated. Please set config._module.check instead."
         x;
 
       legacyModules =
@@ -265,9 +277,9 @@ let
               let
                 optText = showOption (prefix ++ firstDef.prefix);
                 defText =
-                  builtins.addErrorContext
+                  addErrorContext
                     "while evaluating the error message for definitions for `${optText}', which is an option that does not exist"
-                    (builtins.addErrorContext
+                    (addErrorContext
                       "while evaluating a definition from `${firstDef.file}'"
                       ( showDefs [ firstDef ])
                     );
@@ -298,7 +310,7 @@ let
             else throw baseMsg
         else null;
 
-      checked = builtins.seq checkUnmatched;
+      checked = seq checkUnmatched;
 
       extendModules = extendArgs@{
         modules ? [],
@@ -312,7 +324,7 @@ let
             prefix = extendArgs.prefix or evalModulesArgs.prefix or [];
           });
 
-      type = lib.types.submoduleWith {
+      type = types.submoduleWith {
         inherit modules specialArgs class;
       };
 
@@ -344,8 +356,8 @@ let
           else
             throw (
               "Could not load a value as a module, because it is of type ${lib.strings.escapeNixString m._type}"
-              + lib.optionalString (fallbackFile != unknownModule) ", in file ${toString fallbackFile}."
-              + lib.optionalString (m._type == "configuration") " If you do intend to import this configuration, please only import the modules that make up the configuration. You may have to create a `let` binding, file or attribute to give yourself access to the relevant modules.\nWhile loading a configuration into the module system is a very sensible idea, it can not be done cleanly in practice."
+              + optionalString (fallbackFile != unknownModule) ", in file ${toString fallbackFile}."
+              + optionalString (m._type == "configuration") " If you do intend to import this configuration, please only import the modules that make up the configuration. You may have to create a `let` binding, file or attribute to give yourself access to the relevant modules.\nWhile loading a configuration into the module system is a very sensible idea, it can not be done cleanly in practice."
                # Extended explanation: That's because a finalized configuration is more than just a set of modules. For instance, it has its own `specialArgs` that, by the nature of `specialArgs` can't be loaded through `imports` or the the `modules` argument. So instead, we have to ask you to extract the relevant modules and use those instead. This way, we keep the module system comparatively simple, and hopefully avoid a bad surprise down the line.
             )
         else if isList m then
@@ -415,7 +427,7 @@ let
           moduleKey = file: m:
             if isString m
             then
-              if builtins.substring 0 1 m == "/"
+              if substring 0 1 m == "/"
               then m
               else toString modulesPath + "/" + m
 
@@ -433,11 +445,11 @@ let
 
             else if isAttrs m
             then throw "Module `${file}` contains a disabledModules item that is an attribute set, presumably a module, that does not have a `key` attribute. This means that the module system doesn't have any means to identify the module that should be disabled. Make sure that you've put the correct value in disabledModules: a string path relative to modulesPath, a path value, or an attribute set with a `key` attribute."
-            else throw "Each disabledModules item must be a path, string, or a attribute set with a key attribute, or a value supported by toString. However, one of the disabledModules items in `${toString file}` is none of that, but is of type ${builtins.typeOf m}.";
+            else throw "Each disabledModules item must be a path, string, or a attribute set with a key attribute, or a value supported by toString. However, one of the disabledModules items in `${toString file}` is none of that, but is of type ${typeOf m}.";
 
           disabledKeys = concatMap ({ file, disabled }: map (moduleKey file) disabled) disabled;
           keyFilter = filter (attrs: ! elem attrs.key disabledKeys);
-        in map (attrs: attrs.module) (builtins.genericClosure {
+        in map (attrs: attrs.module) (genericClosure {
           startSet = keyFilter modules;
           operator = attrs: keyFilter attrs.modules;
         });
@@ -475,7 +487,7 @@ let
         }
     else
       # shorthand syntax
-      lib.throwIfNot (isAttrs m) "module ${file} (${key}) does not look like a module."
+      throwIfNot (isAttrs m) "module ${file} (${key}) does not look like a module."
       { _file = toString m._file or file;
         _class = m._class or null;
         key = toString m.key or key;
@@ -485,10 +497,10 @@ let
         config = addFreeformType (removeAttrs m ["_class" "_file" "key" "disabledModules" "require" "imports" "freeformType"]);
       };
 
-  applyModuleArgsIfFunction = key: f: args@{ config, options, lib, ... }:
+  applyModuleArgsIfFunction = key: f: args@{ config, ... }:
     if isFunction f then applyModuleArgs key f args else f;
 
-  applyModuleArgs = key: f: args@{ config, options, lib, ... }:
+  applyModuleArgs = key: f: args@{ config, ... }:
     let
       # Module arguments are resolved in a strict manner when attribute set
       # deconstruction is used.  As the arguments are now defined with the
@@ -503,10 +515,10 @@ let
       # not their values.  The values are forwarding the result of the
       # evaluation of the option.
       context = name: ''while evaluating the module argument `${name}' in "${key}":'';
-      extraArgs = builtins.mapAttrs (name: _:
-        builtins.addErrorContext (context name)
+      extraArgs = mapAttrs (name: _:
+        addErrorContext (context name)
           (args.${name} or config._module.args.${name})
-      ) (lib.functionArgs f);
+      ) (functionArgs f);
 
       # Note: we append in the opposite order such that we can add an error
       # context on the explicit arguments of "args" too. This update
@@ -547,16 +559,16 @@ let
           (n: concatLists)
           (map
             (module: let subtree = module.options; in
-              if !(builtins.isAttrs subtree) then
+              if !(isAttrs subtree) then
                 throw ''
-                  An option declaration for `${builtins.concatStringsSep "." prefix}' has type
-                  `${builtins.typeOf subtree}' rather than an attribute set.
+                  An option declaration for `${concatStringsSep "." prefix}' has type
+                  `${typeOf subtree}' rather than an attribute set.
                   Did you mean to define this outside of `options'?
                 ''
               else
                 mapAttrs
                   (n: option:
-                    [{ inherit (module) _file; pos = builtins.unsafeGetAttrPos n subtree; options = option; }]
+                    [{ inherit (module) _file; pos = unsafeGetAttrPos n subtree; options = option; }]
                   )
                   subtree
               )
@@ -565,17 +577,17 @@ let
       # The root of any module definition must be an attrset.
       checkedConfigs =
         assert
-          lib.all
+          all
             (c:
               # TODO: I have my doubts that this error would occur when option definitions are not matched.
               #       The implementation of this check used to be tied to a superficially similar check for
               #       options, so maybe that's why this is here.
               isAttrs c.config || throw ''
-                In module `${c.file}', you're trying to define a value of type `${builtins.typeOf c.config}'
+                In module `${c.file}', you're trying to define a value of type `${typeOf c.config}'
                 rather than an attribute set for the option
-                `${builtins.concatStringsSep "." prefix}'!
+                `${concatStringsSep "." prefix}'!
 
-                This usually happens if `${builtins.concatStringsSep "." prefix}' has option
+                This usually happens if `${concatStringsSep "." prefix}' has option
                 definitions inside that are not matched. Please check how to properly define
                 this option by e.g. referring to `man 5 configuration.nix'!
               ''
@@ -667,7 +679,7 @@ let
                 let
                   nonOptions = filter (m: !isOption m.options) decls;
                 in
-                throw "The option `${showOption loc}' in module `${(lib.head optionDecls)._file}' would be a parent of the following options, but its type `${(lib.head optionDecls).options.type.description or "<no description>"}' does not support nested options.\n${
+                throw "The option `${showOption loc}' in module `${(head optionDecls)._file}' would be a parent of the following options, but its type `${(head optionDecls).options.type.description or "<no description>"}' does not support nested options.\n${
                   showRawDecls loc nonOptions
                 }"
           else
@@ -806,7 +818,7 @@ let
           "The type `types.${opt.type.name}' of option `${showOption loc}' defined in ${showFiles opt.declarations} is deprecated. ${opt.type.deprecationMessage}";
 
     in warnDeprecation opt //
-      { value = builtins.addErrorContext "while evaluating the option `${showOption loc}':" value;
+      { value = addErrorContext "while evaluating the option `${showOption loc}':" value;
         inherit (res.defsFinal') highestPrio;
         definitions = map (def: def.value) res.defsFinal;
         files = map (def: def.file) res.defsFinal;
@@ -822,7 +834,7 @@ let
       let
         # Process mkMerge and mkIf properties.
         defs' = concatMap (m:
-          map (value: { inherit (m) file; inherit value; }) (builtins.addErrorContext "while evaluating definitions from `${m.file}':" (dischargeProperties m.value))
+          map (value: { inherit (m) file; inherit value; }) (addErrorContext "while evaluating definitions from `${m.file}':" (dischargeProperties m.value))
         ) defs;
 
         # Process mkOverride properties.
@@ -972,12 +984,12 @@ let
   mergeAttrDefinitionsWithPrio = opt:
         let
             defsByAttr =
-              lib.zipAttrs (
-                lib.concatLists (
-                  lib.concatMap
+              zipAttrs (
+                concatLists (
+                  concatMap
                     ({ value, ... }@def:
                       map
-                        (lib.mapAttrsToList (k: value: { ${k} = def // { inherit value; }; }))
+                        (mapAttrsToList (k: value: { ${k} = def // { inherit value; }; }))
                         (pushDownProperties value)
                     )
                     opt.definitionsWithLocations
@@ -985,9 +997,9 @@ let
               );
         in
           assert opt.type.name == "attrsOf" || opt.type.name == "lazyAttrsOf";
-          lib.mapAttrs
+          mapAttrs
                 (k: v:
-                  let merging = lib.mergeDefinitions (opt.loc ++ [k]) opt.type.nestedTypes.elemType v;
+                  let merging = mergeDefinitions (opt.loc ++ [k]) opt.type.nestedTypes.elemType v;
                   in {
                     value = merging.mergedValue;
                     inherit (merging.defsFinal') highestPrio;
@@ -1023,9 +1035,9 @@ let
   mkForce = mkOverride 50;
   mkVMOverride = mkOverride 10; # used by ‘nixos-rebuild build-vm’
 
-  defaultPriority = lib.warnIf (lib.isInOldestRelease 2305) "lib.modules.defaultPriority is deprecated, please use lib.modules.defaultOverridePriority instead." defaultOverridePriority;
+  defaultPriority = warnIf (isInOldestRelease 2305) "lib.modules.defaultPriority is deprecated, please use lib.modules.defaultOverridePriority instead." defaultOverridePriority;
 
-  mkFixStrictness = lib.warn "lib.mkFixStrictness has no effect and will be removed. It returns its argument unmodified, so you can just remove any calls." id;
+  mkFixStrictness = warn "lib.mkFixStrictness has no effect and will be removed. It returns its argument unmodified, so you can just remove any calls." id;
 
   mkOrder = priority: content:
     { _type = "order";
@@ -1121,7 +1133,7 @@ let
     inherit from to;
     visible = false;
     warn = true;
-    use = builtins.trace "Obsolete option `${showOption from}' is used. It was renamed to `${showOption to}'.";
+    use = trace "Obsolete option `${showOption from}' is used. It was renamed to `${showOption to}'.";
   };
 
   mkRenamedOptionModuleWith = {
@@ -1139,8 +1151,8 @@ let
   }: doRename {
     inherit from to;
     visible = false;
-    warn = lib.isInOldestRelease sinceRelease;
-    use = lib.warnIf (lib.isInOldestRelease sinceRelease)
+    warn = isInOldestRelease sinceRelease;
+    use = warnIf (isInOldestRelease sinceRelease)
       "Obsolete option `${showOption from}' is used. It was renamed to `${showOption to}'.";
   };
 
@@ -1372,8 +1384,8 @@ let
     config = lib.importTOML file;
   };
 
-  private = lib.mapAttrs
-    (k: lib.warn "External use of `lib.modules.${k}` is deprecated. If your use case isn't covered by non-deprecated functions, we'd like to know more and perhaps support your use case well, instead of providing access to these low level functions. In this case please open an issue in https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/issues/.")
+  private = mapAttrs
+    (k: warn "External use of `lib.modules.${k}` is deprecated. If your use case isn't covered by non-deprecated functions, we'd like to know more and perhaps support your use case well, instead of providing access to these low level functions. In this case please open an issue in https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/issues/.")
     {
       inherit
         applyModuleArgsIfFunction
diff --git a/lib/tests/modules.sh b/lib/tests/modules.sh
index 750b1d025e02..280d0b47d574 100755
--- a/lib/tests/modules.sh
+++ b/lib/tests/modules.sh
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ checkConfigOutput '^true$' config.result ./module-argument-default.nix
 # gvariant
 checkConfigOutput '^true$' config.assertion ./gvariant.nix
 
+checkConfigOutput '"ok"' config.result ./specialArgs-lib.nix
+
 # https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/131205
 # We currently throw this error already in `config`, but throwing in `config.wrong1` would be acceptable.
 checkConfigError 'It seems as if you.re trying to declare an option by placing it into .config. rather than .options.' config.wrong1 ./error-mkOption-in-config.nix
diff --git a/lib/tests/modules/specialArgs-lib.nix b/lib/tests/modules/specialArgs-lib.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8c9d2103862a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/tests/modules/specialArgs-lib.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{ config, lib, ... }:
+
+{
+  options = {
+    result = lib.mkOption { };
+    weird = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.submoduleWith {
+        # I generally recommend against overriding lib, because that leads to
+        # slightly incompatible dialects of the module system.
+        # Nonetheless, it's worth guarding the property that the module system
+        # evaluates with a completely custom lib, as a matter of separation of
+        # concerns.
+        specialArgs.lib = { };
+        modules = [ ];
+      };
+    };
+  };
+  config.weird = args@{ ... /* note the lack of a `lib` argument */ }:
+  assert args.lib == { };
+  assert args.specialArgs == { lib = { }; };
+  {
+    options.foo = lib.mkOption { };
+    config.foo = lib.mkIf true "alright";
+  };
+  config.result =
+    assert config.weird.foo == "alright";
+    "ok";
+}