diff --git a/vlib/v/util/module.v b/vlib/v/util/module.v
index 3f50bfe079..37ab820266 100644
--- a/vlib/v/util/module.v
+++ b/vlib/v/util/module.v
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ pub fn qualify_module(mod string, file_path string) string {
 		return mod
 	}
 	clean_file_path := file_path.all_before_last('/')
+	// relative module (relative to working directory)
+	// TODO: find most stable solution & test with -usecache
+	if clean_file_path.replace(os.getwd() + os.path_separator, '') == mod {
+		return mod
+	}
 	if m1 := mod_path_to_full_name(mod, clean_file_path) {
 		$if trace_mod_path_to_full_name ? {
 			trace_mod_path_to_full_name(@LINE, mod, clean_file_path, m1)