diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py b/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
index 90db6c0a..ab9ea393 100644
--- a/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ def import_file(filename, context=None, name=None, clear_cache=False):
         else:
             if clear_cache and modulename in sys.modules:
                 del sys.modules[modulename]
-            if dirname is not None:
-                sys.path.insert(0, dirname)
-            else:
-                sys.path.insert(0, implied_dirname)
             try:
+                if dirname is not None:
+                    sys.path.insert(0, dirname)
+                else:
+                    sys.path.insert(0, implied_dirname)
                 module = __import__(modulename)
             except ImportError:
                 pass
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ def import_file(filename, context=None, name=None, clear_cache=False):
                                                             [dirname])
                 fp.close()
             else:
-                sys.path.insert(0, implied_dirname)
                 try:
+                    sys.path.insert(0, implied_dirname)
                     # find_module will return the .py file
                     # (never .pyc)
                     fp, pathname, description = imp.find_module(modulename)
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def run_file(filename, logfile=None, execdir=None):
     #
     # Open logfile
     #
-    if not logfile is None:
+    if logfile is not None:
         sys.stderr.flush()
         sys.stdout.flush()
         save_stdout = sys.stdout
@@ -187,44 +187,44 @@ def run_file(filename, logfile=None, execdir=None):
     # Add the file directory to the system path
     #
     currdir_ = ''
-    if '/' in filename:
-        currdir_ = "/".join((filename).split("/")[:-1])
-        tmp_import = (filename).split("/")[-1]
-        sys.path.append(currdir_)
-    elif '\\' in filename:
-        currdir_ = "\\".join((filename).split("\\")[:-1])
-        tmp_import = (filename).split("\\")[-1]
-        sys.path.append(currdir_)
+    norm_file = os.path.normpath(filename)
+    assert norm_file[-1] not in '\\/'
+    split_path = []
+    while norm_file:
+        norm_file, tail = os.path.split(norm_file)
+        split_path.append(tail)
+        # Absolute paths can get stuck returning ('/', '')
+        if not tail:
+            split_path.append(norm_file)
+            norm_file = ''
+    split_path.reverse()
+    if len(split_path) > 1:
+        currdir_ = os.path.join(*tuple(split_path[:-1]))
     else:
-        tmp_import = filename
+        currdir_ = '.'
+    tmp_import = split_path[-1]
+
     name = ".".join((tmp_import).split(".")[:-1])
     #
     # Run the module
     #
     try:
-        if not execdir is None:
+        tmp_path = list(sys.path)
+        if execdir is not None:
             tmp = os.getcwd()
             os.chdir(execdir)
-            tmp_path = sys.path
             sys.path = [execdir] + sys.path
+        # [JDS 191130] I am not sure why we put the target file's
+        # directory at the end of sys.path, but I am preserving that
+        # decision.
+        sys.path.append(currdir_)
         runpy.run_module(name, None, "__main__")
-        if not execdir is None:
+    finally:
+        # Mandatory cleanup
+        sys.path = tmp_path
+        if execdir is not None:
             os.chdir(tmp)
-            sys.path = tmp_path
-    except Exception:  #pragma:nocover
-        if not logfile is None:
+        if logfile is not None:
             OUTPUT.close()
             sys.stdout = save_stdout
             sys.stderr = save_stderr
-        raise
-    if currdir_ in sys.path:
-        sys.path.remove(currdir_)
-    if execdir in sys.path:
-        sys.path.remove(execdir)
-    #
-    # Close logfile
-    #
-    if not logfile is None:
-        OUTPUT.close()
-        sys.stdout = save_stdout
-        sys.stderr = save_stderr
diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_exception.py b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5480bd95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import sys
+
+raise RuntimeError("raised during import")
diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.py b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a3ef7612
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import sys
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    print("import_main_exception - main")
+    raise RuntimeError("raised from __main__")
diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.txt b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..588c98e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/tests/import_main_exception.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+import_main_exception - main
diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/tests/test_import.py b/pyutilib/misc/tests/test_import.py
index a5a57b07..af523ad2 100644
--- a/pyutilib/misc/tests/test_import.py
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/tests/test_import.py
@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ def test_run_file3(self):
                                                   currdir + "import2.txt")[0])
         os.remove(currdir + "import2.log")
 
+    def test_run_file_exception(self):
+        orig_path = list(sys.path)
+        with self.assertRaisesRegexp(RuntimeError, "raised from __main__"):
+            pyutilib.misc.run_file(
+                "import_main_exception.py",
+                logfile=currdir + "import_main_exception.log", execdir=currdir)
+
+        self.assertFalse(
+            pyutilib.misc.comparison.compare_file(
+                currdir + "import_main_exception.log",
+                currdir + "import_main_exception.txt")[0])
+        os.remove(currdir + "import_main_exception.log")
+        self.assertIsNot(orig_path, sys.path)
+        self.assertEqual(orig_path, sys.path)
+
 
 class TestImportFile(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -83,6 +98,14 @@ def test_import_file_context3(self):
         if not "import1" in globals():
             self.fail("test_import_file - failed to import the import1.py file")
 
+    def test_import_exception(self):
+        orig_path = list(sys.path)
+        with self.assertRaisesRegexp(RuntimeError, "raised during import"):
+            pyutilib.misc.run_file(
+                "import_exception.py", execdir=currdir)
+        self.assertIsNot(orig_path, sys.path)
+        self.assertEqual(orig_path, sys.path)
+
     def test1(self):
         try:
             pyutilib.misc.import_file('tfile.py')