diff --git a/simport/__init__.py b/simport/__init__.py
index 7028bc9..de3a7a9 100644
--- a/simport/__init__.py
+++ b/simport/__init__.py
@@ -74,22 +74,28 @@ def _get_module(target):
     if not class_or_function:
         raise MissingMethodOrFunction("No Method or Function specified in '%s'" % target)
 
-    try:
-        __import__(module)
-    except ImportError as e:
-        raise ImportFailed("Failed to import '%s'. Error: %s" % (module, e))
+    if module:
+        try:
+            __import__(module)
+        except ImportError as e:
+            raise ImportFailed("Failed to import '%s'. Error: %s" % (module, e))
 
     klass, sep, function = class_or_function.rpartition('.')
     return module, klass, function
 
 
-def load(target):
+def load(target, source_module=None):
     """Get the actual implementation of the target."""
     module, klass, function = _get_module(target)
+    if not module and source_module:
+        module = source_module
+    if not module:
+        raise MissingModule("No module name supplied or source_module provided.")
+    actual_module = sys.modules[module]
     if not klass:
-        return getattr(sys.modules[module], function)
+        return getattr(actual_module, function)
 
-    class_object = getattr(sys.modules[module], klass)
+    class_object = getattr(actual_module, klass)
     if function:
         return getattr(class_object, function)
     return class_object
diff --git a/tests/test_simport.py b/tests/test_simport.py
index 5f45f71..b026735 100644
--- a/tests/test_simport.py
+++ b/tests/test_simport.py
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ class DummyClass(object):
         pass
 
 
+class LocalClass(object):
+    def my_method(self):
+        pass
+
+
 class TestSimport(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_bad_targets(self):
         self.assertRaises(simport.BadDirectory, simport._get_module,
@@ -78,3 +83,7 @@ class TestSimport(unittest.TestCase):
                             "external.externalmodule:Blah")
         import external.externalmodule
         self.assertEqual(klass, external.externalmodule.Blah)
+
+    def test_local_class(self):
+        klass = simport.load("LocalClass", __name__)
+        self.assertEqual(klass, LocalClass)