diff --git a/esrally/utils/modules.py b/esrally/utils/modules.py
index 0fa2b45a8..8a228d1bc 100644
--- a/esrally/utils/modules.py
+++ b/esrally/utils/modules.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ def load(self) -> Collection[ModuleType]:
             component_root_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(root_path, os.pardir))
             self.logger.debug("Adding [%s] to Python load path.", component_root_path)
             # needs to be at the beginning of the system path, otherwise import machinery tries to load application-internal modules
+            sys.path.insert(0, component_root_path)
             try:
                 root_module = self._load_component(component_name, module_dirs, root_path)
                 root_modules.append(root_module)