How can you import a python module and bypass __init__.py?

# nothing_changed/__init__.py
raise Exception('bad news from __init__')

# nothing_changed/isolated.py
def isolated():
    pass

By default, Python will see __init__.py defining the module and run it.

def test_import_with_init():
    with pytest.raises(Exception, match='bad news from __init__'):
        import nothing_changed.isolated

To get around this, add the path to the module and import the isolated part of it directly.

def test_import_without_init():
    import sys
    sys.path.append('./nothing_changed/')
    import isolated

There may be a more elegant approach using custom import features, but this works.