diff --git a/src/bioxelnodes/auto_load.py b/src/bioxelnodes/auto_load.py
index d0dedda..6da9373 100644
--- a/src/bioxelnodes/auto_load.py
+++ b/src/bioxelnodes/auto_load.py
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ blender_version = bpy.app.version
 
 modules = None
 ordered_classes = None
+SKIP_MODULE_NAMES = {
+    "operators.io_worker",
+}
 
 
 def init():
@@ -57,6 +60,8 @@ def get_all_submodules(directory):
 
 def iter_submodules(path, package_name):
     for name in sorted(iter_submodule_names(path)):
+        if name in SKIP_MODULE_NAMES:
+            continue
         yield importlib.import_module("." + name, package_name)
 
 
diff --git a/src/bioxelnodes/operators/io_worker.py b/src/bioxelnodes/operators/io_worker.py
index 3041583..31e090d 100644
--- a/src/bioxelnodes/operators/io_worker.py
+++ b/src/bioxelnodes/operators/io_worker.py
@@ -3,17 +3,21 @@ import sys
 import traceback
 from pathlib import Path
 
-
-PACKAGE_PARENT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
-if str(PACKAGE_PARENT) not in sys.path:
-    sys.path.insert(0, str(PACKAGE_PARENT))
-
 import numpy as np
 import transforms3d
 
-from bioxelnodes.bioxel.layer import Layer
-from bioxelnodes.bioxel.parse import parse_volumetric_data
-from bioxelnodes.layer import save_layers_to_cache
+if __package__:
+    from ..bioxel.layer import Layer
+    from ..bioxel.parse import parse_volumetric_data
+    from ..layer import save_layers_to_cache
+else:
+    PACKAGE_PARENT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+    if str(PACKAGE_PARENT) not in sys.path:
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(PACKAGE_PARENT))
+
+    from bioxelnodes.bioxel.layer import Layer
+    from bioxelnodes.bioxel.parse import parse_volumetric_data
+    from bioxelnodes.layer import save_layers_to_cache
 
 
 def get_layer_shape(bioxel_size: float, orig_shape: tuple, orig_spacing: tuple):