diff --git a/nbdev/sync.py b/nbdev/sync.py
index 7beeb579..c76a62bf 100644
--- a/nbdev/sync.py
+++ b/nbdev/sync.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from fastcore.xtras import *
 
 import ast
-from importlib import import_module
+import importlib
 
 # %% ../nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
 def absolute_import(name, fname, level):
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ def absolute_import(name, fname, level):
 # %% ../nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
 @functools.lru_cache(maxsize=None)
 def _mod_files():
-    midx = import_module(f'{get_config().lib_path.name}._modidx')
+    midx_spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("_modidx", get_config().lib_path / "_modidx.py")
+    midx = importlib.util.module_from_spec(midx_spec)
+    midx_spec.loader.exec_module(midx)
+
     return L(files for mod in midx.d['syms'].values() for _,files in mod.values()).unique()
 
 # %% ../nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
diff --git a/nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb b/nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
index 356c2754..23dbcb33 100644
--- a/nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
+++ b/nbs/api/06_sync.ipynb
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     "from fastcore.xtras import *\n",
     "\n",
     "import ast\n",
-    "from importlib import import_module"
+    "import importlib"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -98,7 +98,10 @@
     "#|export\n",
     "@functools.lru_cache(maxsize=None)\n",
     "def _mod_files():\n",
-    "    midx = import_module(f'{get_config().lib_path.name}._modidx')\n",
+    "    midx_spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(\"_modidx\", get_config().lib_path / \"_modidx.py\")\n",
+    "    midx = importlib.util.module_from_spec(midx_spec)\n",
+    "    midx_spec.loader.exec_module(midx)\n",
+    "\n",
     "    return L(files for mod in midx.d['syms'].values() for _,files in mod.values()).unique()"
    ]
   },