diff --git a/app/models/pace_plan_module_item.rb b/app/models/pace_plan_module_item.rb
index ab4c608e996..eb0ef1b8e83 100644
--- a/app/models/pace_plan_module_item.rb
+++ b/app/models/pace_plan_module_item.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class PacePlanModuleItem < ActiveRecord::Base
                   }
 
   def assignable_module_item
-    unless module_item&.can_have_assignment?
+    unless module_item&.assignment
       self.errors.add(:module_item, 'is not assignable')
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/pace_plan_module_item_spec.rb b/spec/models/pace_plan_module_item_spec.rb
index 300ab237ede..ee1f762592f 100644
--- a/spec/models/pace_plan_module_item_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/pace_plan_module_item_spec.rb
@@ -74,10 +74,14 @@ describe PacePlanModuleItem do
   end
 
   context "validation" do
-    it "requires the module item to be assignable" do
+    it "requires the module item to have an assignment" do
       quiz = @course.quizzes.create!
       quiz_tag = @mod2.add_item id: quiz.id, type: 'quiz'
       header_tag = @mod2.add_item type: 'context_module_sub_header', title: 'not an assignment'
+      expect(@pace_plan.pace_plan_module_items.build(module_item: quiz_tag)).not_to be_valid
+      expect(@pace_plan.pace_plan_module_items.build(module_item: header_tag)).not_to be_valid
+      quiz.save! # Save again to create associated assignment
+      quiz_tag.reload
       expect(@pace_plan.pace_plan_module_items.build(module_item: quiz_tag)).to be_valid
       expect(@pace_plan.pace_plan_module_items.build(module_item: header_tag)).not_to be_valid
     end