diff --git a/actr/model.go b/actr/model.go
index d8b7086..8cc5b71 100644
--- a/actr/model.go
+++ b/actr/model.go
@@ -257,7 +257,19 @@ func (model Model) LookupModule(moduleName string) modules.Interface {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// BufferNames returns a slice of valid buffers.
+// Buffers returns a slice of all valid buffers.
+func (model Model) Buffers() (list buffer.List) {
+	for _, module := range model.Modules {
+		buffers := module.Buffers()
+		if len(buffers) > 0 {
+			list = append(list, buffers...)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return
+}
+
+// BufferNames returns a slice of valid buffer names.
 func (model Model) BufferNames() (list []string) {
 	for _, module := range model.Modules {
 		names := module.Buffers().Names()
diff --git a/amod/validate.go b/amod/validate.go
index a11e3a6..58cd780 100644
--- a/amod/validate.go
+++ b/amod/validate.go
@@ -123,12 +123,12 @@ func validateModuleInitialization(model *actr.Model, log *issueLog, init *module
 func validateInterModuleInitDependencies(model *actr.Model, log *issueLog, config *moduleConfig) (err error) {
 	// when max_spread_strength is not set on memory, check for spreading_activation set on any buffer
 	if model.Memory.MaxSpreadStrength == nil {
-		bufferNames := model.BufferNames()
-
-		for _, name := range bufferNames {
-			buffer := model.LookupBuffer(name)
+		for _, buffer := range model.Buffers() {
 			if buffer.SpreadingActivation() != buffer.DefaultSpreadingActivation() {
-				log.errorTR(config.Tokens, 0, 1, "spreading_activation set on buffer %q, but max_spread_strength not set on memory module", name)
+				log.errorTR(config.Tokens, 0, 1,
+					"spreading_activation set on buffer %q, but max_spread_strength not set on memory module",
+					buffer.Name(),
+				)
 				err = ErrCompile
 			}
 		}