diff --git a/actions/security_checklist.py b/actions/security_checklist.py
index f8b4dad4..41f6cb3b 100755
--- a/actions/security_checklist.py
+++ b/actions/security_checklist.py
@@ -15,9 +15,20 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import configparser
+import os
 import sys
 
-sys.path.append('hooks')
+_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+_hooks = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(_path, '../hooks'))
+
+
+def _add_path(path):
+    if path not in sys.path:
+        sys.path.insert(1, path)
+
+
+_add_path(_hooks)
+
 
 import charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.audits as audits
 from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.audits import (
@@ -47,5 +58,6 @@ def main():
     config['neutron_config'] = dict(conf)
     return audits.action_parse_results(audits.run(config))
 
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/unit_tests/__init__.py b/unit_tests/__init__.py
index c9c8fd1a..973e4e6d 100644
--- a/unit_tests/__init__.py
+++ b/unit_tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
+import os
 import sys
 
-sys.path.append('unit_tests')
-sys.path.append('actions')
-sys.path.append('hooks')
+
+_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+_hooks = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(_path, '../hooks'))
+_actions = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(_path, '../actions'))
+_unit_tests = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(_path, '../unit_tests'))
+
+
+def _add_path(path):
+    if path not in sys.path:
+        sys.path.insert(1, path)
+
+
+_add_path(_hooks)
+_add_path(_actions)
+_add_path(_unit_tests)