diff --git a/src/ohmyapi/core/runtime.py b/src/ohmyapi/core/runtime.py
index e3d700e..8fedc3c 100644
--- a/src/ohmyapi/core/runtime.py
+++ b/src/ohmyapi/core/runtime.py
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ class Project:
         if str(self.project_path) not in sys.path:
             sys.path.insert(0, str(self.project_path))
 
+        # Load settings.py
+        try:
+            self.settings = importlib.import_module("settings")
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"Failed to import project settings from {self.project_path}"
+            ) from e
+
         # Alias builtin apps as ohmyapi_<name>.
         # We need this, because Tortoise app-names may not include dots `.`.
         spec = importlib.util.find_spec("ohmyapi.builtin")
@@ -57,14 +65,6 @@ class Project:
                     except ModuleNotFoundError:
                         pass
 
-        # Load settings.py
-        try:
-            self.settings = importlib.import_module("settings")
-        except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                f"Failed to import project settings from {self.project_path}"
-            ) from e
-
         # Load installed apps
         for app_name in getattr(self.settings, "INSTALLED_APPS", []):
             self._apps[app_name] = App(self, name=app_name)