diff --git a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/configure/__init__.py b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/configure/__init__.py
index 6590dc2bcc3e..f2e698aa6f5b 100644
--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/configure/__init__.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/configure/__init__.py
@@ -169,9 +169,9 @@ class ConfigureSandbox(dict):
             handler.setFormatter(formatter)
             logger.addHandler(handler)
 
-    def exec_file(self, path):
-        '''Execute one file within the sandbox. Users of this class probably
-        want to use `run` instead.'''
+    def include_file(self, path):
+        '''Include one file in the sandbox. Users of this class probably want
+        to use `run` instead.'''
 
         if self._paths:
             path = mozpath.join(mozpath.dirname(self._paths[-1]), path)
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class ConfigureSandbox(dict):
     def run(self, path):
         '''Executes the given file within the sandbox, and ensure the overall
         consistency of the executed script.'''
-        self.exec_file(path)
+        self.include_file(path)
 
         for option in self._options.itervalues():
             # All options must be referenced by some @depends function
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ class ConfigureSandbox(dict):
         if what:
             if not isinstance(what, types.StringTypes):
                 raise TypeError("Unexpected type: '%s'" % type(what).__name__)
-            self.exec_file(what)
+            self.include_file(what)
 
     def template_impl(self, func):
         '''Implementation of @template.
diff --git a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
index 34486c77be2f..664713dc339e 100644
--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TestChecksConfigure(unittest.TestCase):
         out = StringIO()
         sandbox = FindProgramSandbox({}, stdout=out, stderr=out)
         base_dir = os.path.join(topsrcdir, 'build', 'moz.configure')
-        sandbox.exec_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'checks.configure'))
+        sandbox.include_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'checks.configure'))
 
         exec(textwrap.dedent('''
             @checking('for a thing')
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ class TestChecksConfigure(unittest.TestCase):
         out = StringIO()
         sandbox = FindProgramSandbox(config, environ, [prog] + args, out, out)
         base_dir = os.path.join(topsrcdir, 'build', 'moz.configure')
-        sandbox.exec_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'util.configure'))
-        sandbox.exec_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'checks.configure'))
+        sandbox.include_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'util.configure'))
+        sandbox.include_file(os.path.join(base_dir, 'checks.configure'))
 
         status = 0
         try:
diff --git a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_configure.py b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_configure.py
index 421f695e332e..40cbd1f80e4d 100644
--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_configure.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_configure.py
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ class TestConfigure(unittest.TestCase):
         out = StringIO()
         sandbox = ConfigureSandbox(config, {}, [], out, out)
 
-        sandbox.exec_file(mozpath.join(test_data_path, 'decorators.configure'))
+        sandbox.include_file(mozpath.join(test_data_path, 'decorators.configure'))
 
         self.assertNotIn('FOO', sandbox)
         self.assertNotIn('BAR', sandbox)