diff --git a/pecan/tests/test_conf.py b/pecan/tests/test_conf.py
index 0573d84..7c98e16 100644
--- a/pecan/tests/test_conf.py
+++ b/pecan/tests/test_conf.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class TestConf(PecanTestCase):

             try:
                 configuration.conf_from_file(f.name)
-            except (ValueError, SystemError) as e:
+            except (ValueError, SystemError, ImportError) as e:
                 assert 'relative import' in str(e)
             else:
                 raise AssertionError(