diff --git a/tests/test_log_sys.py b/tests/test_log_sys.py
index 779c9dbc..f93a0830 100644
--- a/tests/test_log_sys.py
+++ b/tests/test_log_sys.py
@@ -2,14 +2,12 @@
 `tractor.log`-wrapping unit tests.
 
 '''
-import importlib
 from pathlib import Path
 import shutil
-import sys
-from types import ModuleType
 
 import pytest
 import tractor
+from tractor import _code_load
 
 
 def test_root_pkg_not_duplicated_in_logger_name():
@@ -37,31 +35,6 @@ def test_root_pkg_not_duplicated_in_logger_name():
     assert 'mod' not in sublog.name
 
 
-# ?TODO, move this into internal libs?
-# -[ ] we already use it in `modden.config._pymod` as well
-def load_module_from_path(
-    path: Path,
-    module_name: str|None = None,
-) -> ModuleType:
-    '''
-    Taken from SO,
-    https://stackoverflow.com/a/67208147
-
-    which is based on stdlib docs,
-    https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importing-a-source-file-directly
-
-    '''
-    module_name = module_name or path.stem
-    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
-        module_name,
-        str(path),
-    )
-    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
-    sys.modules[module_name] = module
-    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
-    return module
-
-
 def test_implicit_mod_name_applied_for_child(
     testdir: pytest.Pytester,
     loglevel: str,
@@ -109,7 +82,7 @@ def test_implicit_mod_name_applied_for_child(
     # XXX NOTE, once the "top level" pkg mod has been
     # imported, we can then use `import` syntax to
     # import it's sub-pkgs and modules.
-    pkgmod = load_module_from_path(
+    pkgmod = _code_load.load_module_from_path(
         Path(pkg / '__init__.py'),
         module_name=proj_name,
     )
diff --git a/tractor/_code_load.py b/tractor/_code_load.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..65effaa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tractor/_code_load.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# tractor: structured concurrent "actors".
+# Copyright 2018-eternity Tyler Goodlet.
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+'''
+(Hot) coad (re-)load utils for python.
+
+'''
+import importlib
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+from types import ModuleType
+
+# ?TODO, move this into internal libs?
+# -[ ] we already use it in `modden.config._pymod` as well
+def load_module_from_path(
+    path: Path,
+    module_name: str|None = None,
+) -> ModuleType:
+    '''
+    Taken from SO,
+    https://stackoverflow.com/a/67208147
+
+    which is based on stdlib docs,
+    https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importing-a-source-file-directly
+
+    '''
+    module_name = module_name or path.stem
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
+        module_name,
+        str(path),
+    )
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    sys.modules[module_name] = module
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module