diff --git a/src/Python/leversc/leversc.py b/src/Python/leversc/leversc.py
index acb8a6d206c29bfebe444795781346ca3a300dbe..c7ad5df96ebf4a52d9630c13a49ebaf467ec1100 100644
--- a/src/Python/leversc/leversc.py
+++ b/src/Python/leversc/leversc.py
@@ -370,9 +370,17 @@ class leversc:
         if ( ljs_m is None ):
             return None
         return ljs_m.get_ljspath()
+    # if we are running from inside the source tree then there is package/module confusion
+    # resolve that with try/except here
+    try: 
+        # using package
+        from leversc._readImage import readImage
+        from leversc._property import setProperty,getProperty
+    except:
+        # running from source tree (leversc resolves as a module)
+        from _readImage import readImage
+        from _property import setProperty,getProperty
 
-    from leversc._readImage import readImage
-    from leversc._property import setProperty,getProperty
     @property
     def viewParams(self):
         return self.getProperty('viewParams')