diff --git a/hy/__init__.py b/hy/__init__.py
index 3a38caec5..dcd95c94c 100644
--- a/hy/__init__.py
+++ b/hy/__init__.py
@@ -24,11 +24,8 @@ def __call__(self, module_name):
         import importlib
         return importlib.import_module(module_name)
     def __getattr__(self, s):
-        import re
-        return self(hy.mangle(re.sub(
-            r'/(-*)',
-            lambda m: '.' + '_' * len(m.group(1)),
-            hy.unmangle(s))))
+        from hy.reader.mangling import slashes2dots
+        return self(slashes2dots(s))
 I = I()
 
 
diff --git a/hy/reader/mangling.py b/hy/reader/mangling.py
index 74b2c932b..538c38c4f 100644
--- a/hy/reader/mangling.py
+++ b/hy/reader/mangling.py
@@ -106,3 +106,11 @@ def unmangle(s):
     s = s.replace("_", "-")
 
     return prefix + s + suffix
+
+
+def slashes2dots(s):
+    'Interpret forward slashes as a substitute for periods.'
+    return mangle(re.sub(
+        r'/(-*)',
+        lambda m: '.' + '_' * len(m.group(1)),
+        unmangle(s)))