diff --git a/src/tablib/formats/_xlsx.py b/src/tablib/formats/_xlsx.py
index cc7f0889..23aad5c2 100644
--- a/src/tablib/formats/_xlsx.py
+++ b/src/tablib/formats/_xlsx.py
@@ -85,13 +85,8 @@ def export_book(cls, databook, freeze_panes=True, invalid_char_subst="-", escape
         return stream.getvalue()
 
     @classmethod
-    def import_set(cls, dset, in_stream, headers=True, read_only=True, skip_lines=0):
-        """Returns databook from XLS stream."""
-
-        dset.wipe()
-
-        xls_book = load_workbook(in_stream, read_only=read_only, data_only=True)
-        sheet = xls_book.active
+    def import_sheet(cls, dset, sheet, headers=True, skip_lines=0):
+        """Populates dataset with sheet."""
 
         dset.title = sheet.title
 
@@ -102,8 +97,20 @@ def import_set(cls, dset, in_stream, headers=True, read_only=True, skip_lines=0)
             if i == skip_lines and headers:
                 dset.headers = row_vals
             else:
+                if i > skip_lines and len(row_vals) < dset.width:
+                    row_vals += [''] * (dset.width - len(row_vals))
                 dset.append(row_vals)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def import_set(cls, dset, in_stream, headers=True, read_only=True, skip_lines=0):
+        """Returns databook from XLS stream."""
+
+        dset.wipe()
+
+        xls_book = load_workbook(in_stream, read_only=read_only, data_only=True)
+        sheet = xls_book.active
+        cls.import_sheet(dset, sheet, headers, skip_lines)
+
     @classmethod
     def import_book(cls, dbook, in_stream, headers=True, read_only=True):
         """Returns databook from XLS stream."""
@@ -113,19 +120,9 @@ def import_book(cls, dbook, in_stream, headers=True, read_only=True):
         xls_book = load_workbook(in_stream, read_only=read_only, data_only=True)
 
         for sheet in xls_book.worksheets:
-            data = tablib.Dataset()
-            data.title = sheet.title
-
-            for i, row in enumerate(sheet.rows):
-                row_vals = [c.value for c in row]
-                if (i == 0) and (headers):
-                    data.headers = row_vals
-                else:
-                    if i > 0 and len(row_vals) < data.width:
-                        row_vals += [''] * (data.width - len(row_vals))
-                    data.append(row_vals)
-
-            dbook.add_sheet(data)
+            dset = tablib.Dataset()
+            cls.import_sheet(dset, sheet, headers)
+            dbook.add_sheet(dset)
 
     @classmethod
     def dset_sheet(cls, dataset, ws, freeze_panes=True, escape=False):
diff --git a/tests/test_tablib.py b/tests/test_tablib.py
index d5eda8ce..6360a2b7 100755
--- a/tests/test_tablib.py
+++ b/tests/test_tablib.py
@@ -1096,13 +1096,20 @@ def test_xlsx_bad_chars_sheet_name(self):
         new_data = tablib.Databook().load(_xlsx, 'xlsx')
         self.assertEqual(new_data.sheets()[0].title, 'bad name -------qwertyuiopasdfg')
 
-    def test_xlsx_import_set_ragged(self):
-        """Import XLSX file when not all rows have the same length."""
+    def test_xlsx_import_book_ragged(self):
+        """Import XLSX file through databook when not all rows have the same length."""
         xlsx_source = Path(__file__).parent / 'files' / 'ragged.xlsx'
         with open(str(xlsx_source), mode='rb') as fh:
             book = tablib.Databook().load(fh, 'xlsx')
         self.assertEqual(book.sheets()[0].pop(), (1.0, ''))
 
+    def test_xlsx_import_set_ragged(self):
+        """Import XLSX file through dataset when not all rows have the same length."""
+        xlsx_source = Path(__file__).parent / 'files' / 'ragged.xlsx'
+        with open(str(xlsx_source), mode='rb') as fh:
+            dataset = tablib.Dataset().load(fh, 'xlsx')
+        self.assertEqual(dataset.pop(), (1.0, ''))
+
     def test_xlsx_wrong_char(self):
         """Bad characters are not silently ignored. We let the exception bubble up."""
         from openpyxl.utils.exceptions import IllegalCharacterError