diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4de5e6a..2d7d89d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ pip install triad
 
 ## Release History
 
+### 0.5.0
+
+* Fix to_type on full type path
+
 ### 0.4.9
 
 * Fix numpy warning
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_convert.py b/tests/utils/test_convert.py
index a1c609e..3e46f9a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_convert.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_convert.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
     to_timedelta,
     to_type,
 )
+import urllib  # must keep for testing purpose
+import urllib.request  # must keep for testing purpose
 
 
 def test_to_size():
@@ -94,6 +96,24 @@ def test_str_to_type():
     assert RuntimeError == str_to_type("RuntimeError", Exception)
     raises(TypeError, lambda: str_to_type("RuntimeError", int))
 
+    # test a full type path that only root was imported
+    str_to_type("urllib.request.OpenerDirector")
+
+    # test a full type path that was never imported
+    str_to_type("shutil.Error")
+    str_to_type("http.HTTPStatus")
+
+    # class and subclass
+    class T(object):
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.x = 10
+
+        class _TS(object):
+            pass
+
+    assert T == str_to_type("T")
+    assert T._TS == str_to_type("T._TS")
+
 
 def test_str_to_instance():
     i = str_to_instance("tests.utils.Class2")
diff --git a/triad/utils/convert.py b/triad/utils/convert.py
index 24733a0..99a18a5 100644
--- a/triad/utils/convert.py
+++ b/triad/utils/convert.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import datetime
 import importlib
 import inspect
-from importlib import util as importlib_util
+from types import ModuleType
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -96,15 +96,14 @@ def __init__(self, x=1):
         _globals, _locals = get_caller_global_local_vars(global_vars, local_vars)
         if "." not in expr:
             return eval(expr, _globals, _locals)
-        root = expr.split(".")[0]
-        if root not in _globals and root not in _locals:
-            spec = importlib_util.find_spec(root)
-            assert_or_throw(spec is not None, ValueError(expr))
-            _locals = dict(_locals)
-            _locals[root] = importlib.import_module(root)
-        return eval(expr, _globals, _locals)
+        parts = expr.split(".")
+        v = _locals.get(parts[0], _globals.get(parts[0], None))
+        if v is not None and not isinstance(v, ModuleType):
+            return eval(expr, _globals, _locals)
+        root = ".".join(parts[:-1])
+        return getattr(importlib.import_module(root), parts[-1])
     except ValueError:
-        raise
+        raise  # pragma: no cover
     except Exception:
         raise ValueError(expr)
 
diff --git a/triad_version/__init__.py b/triad_version/__init__.py
index 574c066..3d18726 100644
--- a/triad_version/__init__.py
+++ b/triad_version/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.4.9"
+__version__ = "0.5.0"