diff --git a/pynt/_pynt.py b/pynt/_pynt.py
index d816841..8374fcb 100644
--- a/pynt/_pynt.py
+++ b/pynt/_pynt.py
@@ -40,12 +40,7 @@ def build(args):
         sys.exit(0)
         
     #load build file as a module
-    if not path.isfile(args.file):
-        print("Build file '%s' does not exist. Please specify a build file\n" % args.file) 
-        parser.print_help()
-        sys.exit(1)
-
-    module = imp.load_source(path.splitext(path.basename(args.file))[0], args.file)
+    module = _load_buildscript(args.file)
     
     # Run task and all its dependencies.
     if args.list_tasks:
@@ -80,6 +75,23 @@ def print_tasks(module, file):
                                              task.doc)
     print(task_list + "\n\n"+_CREDIT_LINE)
 
+def _load_buildscript(file_path):
+    if not path.isfile(file_path):
+        print("Build file '%s' does not exist. Please specify a build file\n" % file_path) 
+        parser.print_help()
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    script_dir, script_base = path.split(file_path)
+
+    # Append directory of build script to path, to allow importing modules relatively to the script
+    sys.path.append(path.abspath(script_dir))
+
+    module_name, suffix = path.splitext(script_base)
+    description = (suffix, 'r', imp.PY_SOURCE)
+
+    with open(file_path, 'r') as script_file:
+        return imp.load_module(module_name, script_file, file_path, description)
+
 def _get_default_task(module):
     matching_tasks = [task for name,task in inspect.getmembers(module,Task.is_task)
                       if name == "__DEFAULT__"]
diff --git a/pynt/tests/build_scripts/build_with_local_import.py b/pynt/tests/build_scripts/build_with_local_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6bfa09d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pynt/tests/build_scripts/build_with_local_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+from pynt import task
+
+from test_module import do_stuff
+
+@task()
+def work():
+    do_stuff()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pynt/tests/build_scripts/test_module.py b/pynt/tests/build_scripts/test_module.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16a3bd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pynt/tests/build_scripts/test_module.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+
+def do_stuff():
+    pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pynt/tests/test_pynt.py b/pynt/tests/test_pynt.py
index 195851b..f67cefd 100644
--- a/pynt/tests/test_pynt.py
+++ b/pynt/tests/test_pynt.py
@@ -17,8 +17,14 @@ def fpath(mod):
     
 def simulate_dynamic_module_load(mod):
     file_path = fpath(mod)
-    dynamically_loaded_mod = imp.load_source(path.splitext(path.basename(file_path))[0], file_path)
-    return dynamically_loaded_mod
+
+    #sys.path.append(path.abspath(script_dir))
+
+    module_name, suffix = path.splitext(path.basename(file_path))
+    description = (suffix, 'r', imp.PY_SOURCE)
+
+    with open(file_path, 'r') as scriptfile:
+        return imp.load_module(module_name, scriptfile, file_path, description)
 
 def reset_build_file(mod):
     mod.tasks_run = []
@@ -296,3 +302,12 @@ def test_invalid_names_for_kwargs(self):
             build(self._mod, ['copy[bar123=2]'])
         assert "got an unexpected keyword argument 'bar123'" in str(exc.value)
 
+
+class TesttaskLocalImports:
+    def setup_method(self,method):
+        from .build_scripts import build_with_local_import
+        self._mod = build_with_local_import
+        self._mod.tasks_run = []
+
+    def test_load_build_with_local_import_does_not_fail(self):
+        mod = build(self._mod, ["work"])