diff --git a/pytest_abra/coordinator.py b/pytest_abra/coordinator.py
index 6704360..ca75f98 100644
--- a/pytest_abra/coordinator.py
+++ b/pytest_abra/coordinator.py
@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ class Coordinator:
 
         load_json_to_environ(test_credentials_path)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def add_to_sys(path: Path):
+        # this is a function so that it can be monkeypatched
+        sys.path.append(path.as_posix())
+
     @staticmethod
     def create_runner_dict(recipes_dir: Path) -> dict[str, type[Runner]]:
         """Creates a dictionary holding all the RunnerClasses that can be discovered in recipes_dir
@@ -131,7 +136,7 @@ class Coordinator:
         runner_discovery_pattern = re.compile("Runner.+")
 
         # make it possible to import modules from recipes_dir
-        sys.path.append(recipes_dir.as_posix())
+        Coordinator.add_to_sys(recipes_dir)
 
         for module_path in recipes_dir.rglob("*/runner_*.py"):
             rel_path = module_path.relative_to(recipes_dir).as_posix().replace("/", ".").replace(".py", "")
diff --git a/tests/test_coordinator.py b/tests/test_coordinator.py
index 3c00ed6..a587d97 100644
--- a/tests/test_coordinator.py
+++ b/tests/test_coordinator.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import shutil
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -41,3 +42,25 @@ def test_runner_runner_dict_import(tmp_recipes: Path):
 
     RUNNER_DICT = Coordinator.create_runner_dict(tmp_recipes)
     assert len(RUNNER_DICT.keys()) > 0
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def clear_sys_path():
+    """clear sys.path before test, restore after"""
+    syspath_copy = sys.path.copy()
+    sys.path.clear()
+    yield
+    sys.path.extend(syspath_copy)
+
+
+def test_runner_runner_dict_import_failing(tmp_recipes: Path, clear_sys_path, monkeypatch):
+    """import from recipes dict should work, because create_runner_dict has sys.path.append"""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        Coordinator,
+        "add_to_sys",
+        lambda x: x,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(ModuleNotFoundError):
+        Coordinator.create_runner_dict(tmp_recipes)