diff --git a/api/src/app.py b/api/src/app.py
index f5275db..8458067 100644
--- a/api/src/app.py
+++ b/api/src/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 # 3rd parth dependencies
 from flask import Flask
-from modules.core.routes import blueprint
+
+try:
+    # unit tests
+    from api.src.modules.core.routes import blueprint
+except:
+    # runtime
+    from modules.core.routes import blueprint
 
 
 def create_app():
diff --git a/api/src/modules/core/routes.py b/api/src/modules/core/routes.py
index e0256c1..47bacf4 100644
--- a/api/src/modules/core/routes.py
+++ b/api/src/modules/core/routes.py
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 from flask import Blueprint, request
-from modules.core import service
+
+try:
+    # unit tests
+    from api.src.modules.core import service
+except:
+    # runtime
+    from modules.core import service
+
 from deepface.commons.logger import Logger
 
 logger = Logger(module="api/src/routes.py")
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index e5c9e95..e2dd2e5 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
-import sys
 import unittest
-from deepface.commons import constant
 from deepface.commons.logger import Logger
 
-# api is not available under deepface import
-sys.path.insert(1, f"{constant.ROOT_DIR}/api/src")
-# pylint: disable=wrong-import-order, wrong-import-position
-from app import create_app
+from api.src.app import create_app
 
 logger = Logger("tests/test_api.py")