diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/archivers/generic_archiver/generic_archiver.py b/src/auto_archiver/archivers/generic_archiver/generic_archiver.py
index e339434..59cd3f8 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/archivers/generic_archiver/generic_archiver.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/archivers/generic_archiver/generic_archiver.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error(f"Error downloading cover image {thumbnail_url}: {e}")
 
-        dropin = self.dropin_for_extractor(info_extractor)
+        dropin = self.dropin_for_name(info_extractor.ie_key())
         if dropin:
             try:
                 metadata = dropin.download_additional_media(video_data, info_extractor, metadata)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
                      '_format_sort_fields', 'chapters', 'requested_formats', 'format_note',
                      'audio_channels', 'asr', 'fps', 'was_live', 'is_live', 'heatmap', 'age_limit', 'stretched_ratio']
         
-        dropin = self.dropin_for_extractor(info_extractor)
+        dropin = self.dropin_for_name(info_extractor.ie_key())
         if dropin:
             try:
                 base_keys += dropin.keys_to_clean(video_data, info_extractor)
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
 
         ie_instance = info_extractor(downloader=ydl)
         post_data = None
-        dropin = self.dropin_for_extractor(info_extractor)
+        dropin = self.dropin_for_name(info_extractor.ie_key())
         if not dropin:
             # TODO: add a proper link to 'how to create your own dropin'
             logger.debug(f"""Could not find valid dropin for {info_extractor.IE_NAME}.
@@ -207,8 +207,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
 
         return self.add_metadata(data, info_extractor, url, result)
     
-    def dropin_for_extractor(self, info_extractor: Type[InfoExtractor], additional_paths = []):
-        dropin_name = info_extractor.ie_key().lower()
+    def dropin_for_name(self, dropin_name: str, additional_paths = [], package=__package__) -> Type[InfoExtractor]:
 
         if dropin_name == "generic":
             # no need for a dropin for the generic extractor (?)
@@ -241,7 +240,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
         
         # fallback to loading the dropins within auto-archiver
         try:
-            return _load_dropin(importlib.import_module(f".{dropin_name}", package=__package__))
+            return _load_dropin(importlib.import_module(f".{dropin_name}", package=package))
         except ModuleNotFoundError:
             pass
 
@@ -258,7 +257,7 @@ class GenericArchiver(Archiver):
         ydl.params['getcomments'] = False
         result = False
 
-        dropin_submodule = self.dropin_for_extractor(info_extractor)
+        dropin_submodule = self.dropin_for_name(info_extractor.ie_key())
 
         try:
             if dropin_submodule and dropin_submodule.skip_ytdlp_download(info_extractor, url):
diff --git a/tests/archivers/test_generic_archiver.py b/tests/archivers/test_generic_archiver.py
index d493437..6e249e8 100644
--- a/tests/archivers/test_generic_archiver.py
+++ b/tests/archivers/test_generic_archiver.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
-import datetime 
+import datetime
 import os
 
-from auto_archiver.archivers.generic_archiver import GenericArchiver
+from os.path import dirname
 
+import pytest
+
+from auto_archiver.archivers.generic_archiver import GenericArchiver
 from .test_archiver_base import TestArchiverBase
 
 class TestGenericArchiver(TestArchiverBase):
@@ -23,6 +25,17 @@ class TestGenericArchiver(TestArchiverBase):
         'cookies_from_browser': False,
         'cookie_file': None,
         }
+    
+    def test_load_dropin(self):
+        # test loading dropins that are in the generic_archiver package
+        package = "auto_archiver.archivers.generic_archiver"
+        assert self.archiver.dropin_for_name("bluesky", package=package)
+
+        # test loading dropings via filepath
+        path = os.path.join(dirname(dirname(__file__)), "data/")
+        assert self.archiver.dropin_for_name("dropin", additional_paths=[path])
+
+
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("url, is_suitable", [
         ("https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qap5aO4i9A", True),
diff --git a/tests/data/dropin.py b/tests/data/dropin.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0049c48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/dropin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# this is a dummy class used to test importing a dropin in the
+#  generic extractor by filename/path
+
+class Dropin:
+    pass
\ No newline at end of file