diff --git a/src/runtime/assemblymanager.cs b/src/runtime/assemblymanager.cs
index 35badb71a..29add80be 100644
--- a/src/runtime/assemblymanager.cs
+++ b/src/runtime/assemblymanager.cs
@@ -208,6 +208,24 @@ public static Assembly LoadAssemblyPath(string name) {
             return assembly;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>  
+        /// Loads an assembly using full path.  
+        /// </summary>  
+        /// <param name="name"></param>  
+        /// <returns></returns>  
+        public static Assembly LoadAssemblyFullPath(string name) {
+            Assembly assembly = null;
+            if (Path.IsPathRooted(name)) {
+                if (!Path.HasExtension(name))
+                    name = name + ".dll";
+                if (File.Exists(name)) {
+                    try { assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(name); }
+                    catch { }
+                }
+            }
+            return assembly;
+        }
+
         //===================================================================
         // Returns an assembly that's already been loaded
         //===================================================================
diff --git a/src/runtime/moduleobject.cs b/src/runtime/moduleobject.cs
index 5cd6f2af5..d5dc2a562 100644
--- a/src/runtime/moduleobject.cs
+++ b/src/runtime/moduleobject.cs
@@ -409,11 +409,15 @@ public static Assembly AddReference(string name)
             {
                 assembly = AssemblyManager.LoadAssembly(name);
             }
+            if (assembly == null) {
+                assembly = AssemblyManager.LoadAssemblyFullPath(name);
+            }
             if (assembly == null)
             {
                 string msg = String.Format("Unable to find assembly '{0}'.", name);
                 throw new System.IO.FileNotFoundException(msg);
             }
+            
             return assembly ;
         }