diff --git a/src/django_components/__init__.py b/src/django_components/__init__.py
index 12a573c8..5f42192f 100644
--- a/src/django_components/__init__.py
+++ b/src/django_components/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import importlib
 import importlib.util
-import sys
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Union
 
 import django
 from django.utils.module_loading import autodiscover_modules
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ def autodiscover() -> None:
         autodiscover_modules("components")
 
         # Autodetect a <component>.py file in a components dir
-        component_filepaths = search(search_glob="**/*.py")
+        component_filepaths = search(search_glob="**/*.py").matched_files
         for path in component_filepaths:
             import_file(path)
 
@@ -29,12 +28,20 @@ def autodiscover() -> None:
         importlib.import_module(path_lib)
 
 
-def import_file(path: Union[str, Path]) -> None:
-    MODULE_PATH = path
-    MODULE_NAME = Path(path).stem
-    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH)
-    if spec is None:
-        raise ValueError(f"Cannot import file '{path}' - invalid path")
-    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
-    sys.modules[spec.name] = module
-    spec.loader.exec_module(module)  # type: ignore
+def import_file(file_path: Path) -> None:
+    # Get the root dir, see https://stackoverflow.com/a/16413955/9788634
+    project_root = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__name__))
+
+    # Derive python import path from the filesystem path
+    # Example:
+    # If project root is `/path/to/project`
+    # And file_path is `/path/to/project/app/components/mycomp.py`
+    # Then the path relative to project root is `app/components/mycomp.py`
+    # Which we then turn into python import path `app.components.mycomp`
+    rel_path = os.path.relpath(file_path, start=project_root)
+    rel_path_without_suffix = str(Path(rel_path).with_suffix(""))
+    module_name = rel_path_without_suffix.replace(os.sep, ".")
+    
+    # This imports the file and runs it's code. So if the file defines any
+    # django components, they will be registered.
+    importlib.import_module(module_name)
diff --git a/src/django_components/component.py b/src/django_components/component.py
index 17348cfa..fdcc80df 100644
--- a/src/django_components/component.py
+++ b/src/django_components/component.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def _resolve_component_relative_files(attrs: MutableMapping) -> None:
 
     # Prepare all possible directories we need to check when searching for
     # component's template and media files
-    components_dirs = search()
+    components_dirs = search().searched_dirs
 
     # Get the directory where the component class is defined
     try:
diff --git a/src/django_components/utils.py b/src/django_components/utils.py
index 49ad9b7f..13e5f018 100644
--- a/src/django_components/utils.py
+++ b/src/django_components/utils.py
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 import glob
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import List, Optional, Union
+from typing import List, Optional, NamedTuple
 
 from django.template.engine import Engine
 
 from django_components.template_loader import Loader
 
 
-def search(search_glob: Optional[str] = None, engine: Optional[Engine] = None) -> Union[List[str], List[Path]]:
+class SearchResult(NamedTuple):
+    searched_dirs: List[Path]
+    matched_files: List[Path]
+
+
+def search(search_glob: Optional[str] = None, engine: Optional[Engine] = None) -> SearchResult:
     """
     Search for directories that may contain components.
 
@@ -22,11 +27,11 @@ def search(search_glob: Optional[str] = None, engine: Optional[Engine] = None) -
     dirs = loader.get_dirs()
 
     if search_glob is None:
-        return dirs
+        return SearchResult(searched_dirs=dirs, matched_files=[])
 
-    component_filenames: List[str] = []
+    component_filenames: List[Path] = []
     for directory in dirs:
         for path in glob.iglob(str(Path(directory) / search_glob), recursive=True):
-            component_filenames.append(path)
+            component_filenames.append(Path(path))
 
-    return component_filenames
+    return SearchResult(searched_dirs=dirs, matched_files=component_filenames)