diff --git a/cime_config/pop_cime_py/__init__.py b/cime_config/pop_cime_py/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8391f667
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cime_config/pop_cime_py/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .buildnml import buildnml
diff --git a/cime_config/buildnml b/cime_config/pop_cime_py/buildnml.py
similarity index 100%
rename from cime_config/buildnml
rename to cime_config/pop_cime_py/buildnml.py