import sys class Mod(object): def __getattr__(self, name): print(name) raise AttributeError foobar = type(sys)('foobar') sys.modules['foobar'] = foobar sys.modules['foobar.baz'] = Mod() from foobar.baz import x # CPython <= 3.4: ImportError # CPython 3.5b2+ 58ded1d9a3c1: AttributeError