diff --git a/pypiserver/_app.py b/pypiserver/_app.py
index 5dc17b5..224d76b 100644
--- a/pypiserver/_app.py
+++ b/pypiserver/_app.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def configure(root=None,
     config.redirect_to_fallback = redirect_to_fallback
     config.fallback_url = fallback_url
     config.cache_control = cache_control
-    if password_file:
+    if password_file and password_file != '.':
         from passlib.apache import HtpasswdFile  # @UnresolvedImport
         config.htpasswdfile = HtpasswdFile(password_file)
     config.overwrite = overwrite
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index 22b9bac..0fe253d 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -130,7 +130,5 @@ def test_password_alone(main, monkeypatch):
     assert main.app.module.config.authenticated == ['update']
 
 def test_dot_password_without_auth_list(main, monkeypatch):
-    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, 'passlib', mock.MagicMock())
-    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, 'passlib.apache', mock.MagicMock())
     main(["-P", ".", "-a", ""])
     assert main.app.module.config.authenticated == []