diff --git a/src/ModuleManager.php b/src/ModuleManager.php
index d388ba3..39e6227 100644
--- a/src/ModuleManager.php
+++ b/src/ModuleManager.php
@@ -128,10 +128,26 @@ public function loadModule($module)
             $module     = current($module);
         }
 
+        // search for a specific name
         if (isset($this->loadedModules[$moduleName])) {
             return $this->loadedModules[$moduleName];
         }
 
+        // when no specific name is found, try the complete class-string
+        $verifiedModulName = $this->getVerifiedModuleName($moduleName);
+        if (isset($this->loadedModules[$verifiedModulName])) {
+            return $this->loadedModules[$verifiedModulName];
+        }
+
+        // when no class-string is found, try search for a namespace
+        if (class_exists($verifiedModulName)) {
+            $moduleReflection = new \ReflectionClass($verifiedModulName);
+
+            if (isset($this->loadedModules[$moduleReflection->getNamespaceName()])) {
+                return $this->loadedModules[$moduleReflection->getNamespaceName()];
+            }
+        }
+
         /*
          * Keep track of nested module loading using the $loadFinished
          * property.
@@ -317,4 +333,21 @@ protected function attachDefaultListeners($events)
     {
         $events->attach(ModuleEvent::EVENT_LOAD_MODULES, [$this, 'onLoadModules']);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * determines the class string of the module
+     *
+     * @param $moduleName
+     * @return string
+     */
+    private function getVerifiedModuleName($moduleName)
+    {
+        $verifiedModulName = $moduleName;
+
+        if (!class_exists($moduleName) && class_exists($moduleName.'\Module')) {
+            $verifiedModulName = $moduleName.'\Module';
+        }
+
+        return $verifiedModulName;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/test/ModuleManagerTest.php b/test/ModuleManagerTest.php
index d92dfc3..ec6d504 100644
--- a/test/ModuleManagerTest.php
+++ b/test/ModuleManagerTest.php
@@ -100,6 +100,38 @@ public function testModuleLoadingBehavior()
         self::assertSame(1, count($modules));
     }
 
+    public function testModuleLoadingBehaviorWithModuleClassStrings()
+    {
+        $moduleManager = new ModuleManager(['SomeModule'], $this->events);
+        $this->defaultListeners->attach($this->events);
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules();
+        self::assertSame(0, count($modules));
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules(true);
+        self::assertSame(1, count($modules));
+
+
+        $moduleManager->loadModules(); // should not cause any problems
+        $moduleManager->loadModule(\SomeModule\Module::class); // should not cause any problems
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules(true); // BarModule already loaded so nothing happens
+        self::assertSame(1, count($modules));
+    }
+
+    public function testModuleLoadingBehaviorWithModuleClassStringsVersion2()
+    {
+        $moduleManager = new ModuleManager([\SomeModule\Module::class], $this->events);
+        $this->defaultListeners->attach($this->events);
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules();
+        self::assertSame(0, count($modules));
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules(true);
+        self::assertSame(1, count($modules));
+
+
+        $moduleManager->loadModules(); // should not cause any problems
+        $moduleManager->loadModule('SomeModule'); // should not cause any problems
+        $modules = $moduleManager->getLoadedModules(true); // BarModule already loaded so nothing happens
+        self::assertSame(1, count($modules));
+    }
+
     public function testConstructorThrowsInvalidArgumentException()
     {
         $this->expectException(InvalidArgumentException::class);