diff --git a/console_conf/core.py b/console_conf/core.py
index 445376a7..588baaf3 100644
--- a/console_conf/core.py
+++ b/console_conf/core.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ log = logging.getLogger("console_conf.core")
 
 class ConsoleConf(TuiApplication):
 
+    from console_conf import controllers as controllers_mod
     project = "console_conf"
 
     make_model = ConsoleConfModel
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ class ConsoleConf(TuiApplication):
 
 class RecoveryChooser(TuiApplication):
 
+    from console_conf import controllers as controllers_mod
     project = "console_conf"
 
     controllers = [
diff --git a/subiquity/core.py b/subiquity/core.py
index 02834042..6116a173 100644
--- a/subiquity/core.py
+++ b/subiquity/core.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ class Subiquity(TuiApplication):
         'additionalProperties': True,
         }
 
+    from subiquity import controllers as controllers_mod
     project = "subiquity"
 
     def make_model(self):
diff --git a/subiquitycore/core.py b/subiquitycore/core.py
index c2b8d482..8cc6ad85 100644
--- a/subiquitycore/core.py
+++ b/subiquitycore/core.py
@@ -75,10 +75,8 @@ class Application:
         self.signal = Signal()
         self.prober = prober
         self.new_event_loop()
-        controllers_mod = __import__(
-            '{}.controllers'.format(self.project), None, None, [''])
         self.controllers = ControllerSet(
-            controllers_mod, self.controllers, init_args=(self,))
+            self.controllers_mod, self.controllers, init_args=(self,))
         self.context = Context.new(self)
 
     def _exception_handler(self, loop, context):