diff --git a/lib/core/config.js b/lib/core/config.js
index 8b8e36c54..608d1f580 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.js
+++ b/lib/core/config.js
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ var Config = function(options) {
   self.events.setCommandHandler("config:contractsFiles", (cb) => {
     cb(self.contractsFiles);
   });
+
+  // TODO: refactor this so reading the file can be done with a normal resolver or something that takes advantage of the plugin api
+  self.events.setCommandHandler("config:contractsFiles:add", (filename) => {
+    self.contractsFiles.push(new File({filename: filename, type: File.types.custom, path: filename, resolver: function(callback) {
+      callback(fs.readFileSync(filename).toString());
+    }}));
+  });
 };
 
 Config.prototype.loadConfigFiles = function(options) {
@@ -376,6 +383,7 @@ Config.prototype.loadFiles = function(files) {
   return readFiles;
 };
 
+// NOTE: this doesn't work for internal modules
 Config.prototype.loadPluginContractFiles = function() {
   var self = this;
 
diff --git a/lib/core/plugin.js b/lib/core/plugin.js
index 296f52b5d..991c8ceca 100644
--- a/lib/core/plugin.js
+++ b/lib/core/plugin.js
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ Plugin.prototype.addFileToPipeline = function(file, intendedPath, options) {
 };
 
 Plugin.prototype.addContractFile = function(file) {
+  if (this.isInternal) {
+    throw new Error("this API cannot work for internal modules. please use an event command instead: config:contractsFiles:add");
+  }
   this.contractsFiles.push(file);
   this.addPluginType('contractFiles');
 };
diff --git a/lib/core/plugins.js b/lib/core/plugins.js
index fe42c472e..bbf717c26 100644
--- a/lib/core/plugins.js
+++ b/lib/core/plugins.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const async = require('async');
 var Plugin = require('./plugin.js');
 var utils = require('../utils/utils.js');
+var fs = require('../core/fs.js');
 
 var Plugins = function(options) {
   this.pluginList = options.plugins || [];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ Plugins.prototype.createPlugin = function(pluginName, pluginConfig) {
 };
 
 Plugins.prototype.loadInternalPlugin = function(pluginName, pluginConfig) {
-  var pluginPath = utils.joinPath('../modules/', pluginName, 'index.js');
+  var pluginPath = fs.embarkPath('lib/modules/' + pluginName);
   var plugin = require(pluginPath);
 
   var pluginWrapper = new Plugin({