diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 1965a87..72051a9 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module.exports = function(options) {
       // This searches up from the specified package.json file, making sure
       // the config option behaves as expected. See issue #56.
       var searchFor = path.join('node_modules', name);
-      return require(findup(searchFor, {cwd: path.dirname(config)}));
+      return require(findup(searchFor, {cwd: path.dirname(config)}) || name);
     };
   } else {
     requireFn = require;
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f3bd629..7901e60 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "version": "0.9.0",
   "description": "Automatically load any gulp plugins in your package.json",
   "scripts": {
-    "test": "mocha"
+    "test": "NODE_PATH=test/global_modules mocha"
   },
   "files": [
     "index.js"
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
     "Sindre Sorhus",
     "Julien Fontanet <julien.fontanet@vates.fr>",
     "Callum Macrae",
-    "Hutson Betts"
+    "Hutson Betts",
+    "Christian Maniewski"
   ],
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/test/global_modules/gulp-test-global/index.js b/test/global_modules/gulp-test-global/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea41b01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/global_modules/gulp-test-global/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+module.exports = function () {};
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
index 51d8af7..3b3e1e8 100644
--- a/test/index.js
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -204,3 +204,13 @@ describe('requiring from another directory', function() {
     assert.ok(typeof plugins.test === 'function');
   });
 });
+
+describe('requiring from global directory', function() {
+  it('allows you to use the NODE_PATH directory', function() {
+    if (process.env.NODE_PATH !== 'test/global_modules') {
+      throw new Error('No NODE_PATH found. Please run the tests using npm test.');
+    }
+    var plugins = require('../')();
+    assert.ok(typeof plugins.testGlobal === 'function');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/package.json b/test/package.json
index 418c622..4092489 100644
--- a/test/package.json
+++ b/test/package.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "dependencies": {
-    "gulp-test": "*"
+    "gulp-test": "*",
+    "gulp-test-global": "*"
   }
 }