diff --git a/maturin/import_hook.py b/maturin/import_hook.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..102ed4145
--- /dev/null
+++ b/maturin/import_hook.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import importlib
+import importlib.util
+from importlib import abc
+import os
+import pathlib
+import sys
+import subprocess
+
+import toml
+
+
+class Importer(abc.MetaPathFinder):
+    """A meta-path importer for the maturin based packages"""
+
+    def find_spec(self, fullname, path, target=None):
+        if fullname in sys.modules:
+            return
+        mod_parts = fullname.split(".")
+        module_name = mod_parts[-1]
+        cargo_toml = pathlib.Path(os.getcwd()) / "Cargo.toml"
+        if os.path.exists(cargo_toml):
+            with open(cargo_toml) as f:
+                cargo = toml.load(f)
+                package_name = cargo.get("package", {}).get("name")
+                if (
+                    package_name == module_name
+                    or package_name.replace("-", "_") == module_name
+                ):
+                    build_module(cargo_toml)
+                    loader = Loader(fullname)
+                    return importlib.util.spec_from_loader(fullname, loader)
+
+
+class Loader(abc.Loader):
+    def __init__(self, fullname):
+        self.fullname = fullname
+
+    def load_module(self, fullname):
+        return importlib.import_module(self.fullname)
+
+
+def build_module(manifest_path):
+    command = ["maturin", "develop", "-m", manifest_path]
+    result = subprocess.run(command, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+    sys.stdout.buffer.write(result.stdout)
+    sys.stdout.flush()
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        sys.stderr.write(
+            f"Error: command {command} returned non-zero exit status {result.returncode}\n"
+        )
+        raise ImportError("Failed to build module with maturin")
+
+
+def _have_importer():
+    for importer in sys.meta_path:
+        if isinstance(importer, Importer):
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
+def install():
+    """
+    Install the import hook.
+    """
+    if _have_importer():
+        return
+    importer = Importer()
+    sys.meta_path.append(importer)
+    return importer
+
+
+def uninstall(importer):
+    """
+    Uninstall the import hook.
+    """
+    try:
+        sys.meta_path.remove(importer)
+    except ValueError:
+        pass