pytest-dev/pytest · critical · ImportError

{path}

Error message

{path}

What it means

import_path raises ImportError(path) when the given file path does not exist on disk. pytest uses import_path to load test modules and conftest.py files, so a non-existent path usually means a stale reference or a deleted/moved file.

Source

Thrown at src/_pytest/pathlib.py:590

          allows having same-named test modules in different places.

    :param root:
        Used as an anchor when mode == ImportMode.importlib to obtain
        a unique name for the module being imported so it can safely be stored
        into ``sys.modules``.

    :param consider_namespace_packages:
        If True, consider namespace packages when resolving module names.

    :raises ImportPathMismatchError:
        If after importing the given `path` and the module `__file__`
        are different. Only raised in `prepend` and `append` modes.
    """
    path = Path(path)
    mode = ImportMode(mode)

    if not path.exists():
        raise ImportError(path)

    if mode is ImportMode.importlib:
        # Try to import this module using the standard import mechanisms, but
        # without touching sys.path.
        try:
            _, module_name = resolve_pkg_root_and_module_name(
                path, consider_namespace_packages=consider_namespace_packages
            )
        except CouldNotResolvePathError:
            pass
        else:
            # If the given module name is already in sys.modules, do not import it again.
            with contextlib.suppress(KeyError):
                return sys.modules[module_name]

            mod = _import_module_using_spec(module_name, path, insert_modules=False)
            if mod is not None:
                return mod

View on GitHub (pinned to 98b357f69e)

Solutions

1. Verify the file exists at the given path before importing
2. Check for typos, broken symlinks, or moved files
3. Regenerate the path list / clear caches pointing at the stale path

Example fix

// before
mod = import_path('tests/old_test.py')
// after
from pathlib import Path
p = Path('tests/new_test.py')
assert p.exists()
mod = import_path(p)

from pathlib import Path
def import_if_exists(path):
    p = Path(path)
    if not p.exists():
        raise FileNotFoundError(p)
    from _pytest.pathlib import import_path
    return import_path(p)

from pathlib import Path
def path_exists(path) -> bool:
    return Path(path).exists()

When it happens

Trigger: import_path called with a path that fails path.exists(); e.g. a conftest or test module path recorded by the rewriter/cache that has since been deleted, or a manually-constructed wrong path.

Common situations: Deleted or moved test files still referenced by an IDE/runner; symlinks pointing nowhere; misconfigured rootdir/python path; stale .pyc without source.

Related errors

• could not create numbered dir with prefix {prefix} in {root}
• cannot create lockfile in {p}
• Can't find module {module_name} at location {path}
• {module_name}, {module_file}, {path}
• Directory '{rootdir}' not found. Check your '--rootdir' opti

AI-assisted analysis of pytest-dev/pytest@98b357f69e (2026-08-04). Data as JSON: /data/errors/0d6a143f1156f599.json. Report an issue: GitHub.