-config = imp.load_source('config', args.config).__dict__
-os.remove(args.config+'c') # remove compiled python file
+old_val = sys.dont_write_bytecode
+sys.dont_write_bytecode = True
+config = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('config', args.config).load_module().__dict__
+sys.dont_write_bytecode = old_val
+
+# initialise variables holding the configuration