diff --git a/examples/file_a.metta b/examples/file_a.metta
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3c2881f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/file_a.metta
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+!(import! &self file_b)
+
+(= (add_10 $x)
+	(+ $x 10))
+
+(= (square $x)
+	(* $x $x))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/file_b.metta b/examples/file_b.metta
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3442029d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/file_b.metta
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+!(import! &self file_a)
+
+(= (mul_2 $x)
+	(* (add_10 $x) 2))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/test_cyclic_imports.metta b/examples/test_cyclic_imports.metta
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6fc1d7f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test_cyclic_imports.metta
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+!(import! &self file_a)
+
+;; direct
+!(test (add_10 10) 20)
+
+;; cross-module
+!(test (mul_2 5) 30)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/test_import_order.metta b/examples/test_import_order.metta
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38c078ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test_import_order.metta
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+!(import! &self file_b)
+!(import! &self file_a)
+
+!(test (add_10 5) 15)
+!(test (mul_2 10) 40)
+!(test (square 3) 9)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/test_nested_imports.metta b/examples/test_nested_imports.metta
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b805672
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test_nested_imports.metta
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+!(import! &self file_b)
+
+!(test (add_10 5) 15)
+!(test (mul_2 10) 40)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/filereader.pl b/src/filereader.pl
index 2305a856..705fd010 100644
--- a/src/filereader.pl
+++ b/src/filereader.pl
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+% Track imported files for cycle detection and order-independence
+:- dynamic imported_file/1.
 :- use_module(library(readutil)). % read_file_to_string/3
 :- use_module(library(pcre)). % re_replace/4
 :- current_prolog_flag(argv, Args), ( (memberchk(silent, Args) ; memberchk('--silent', Args) ; memberchk('-s', Args))
@@ -14,9 +16,43 @@
                                            strip(Cs, 0, Codes),
                                            phrase(top_forms(Forms, 1), Codes),
                                            maplist(parse_form, Forms, ParsedForms),
+                                           pre_register_imports(ParsedForms),
                                            maplist(process_form(Space), ParsedForms, ResultsList), !,
                                            append(ResultsList, Results).
 
+% Pre-register all imports before compilation (order-independence)
+pre_register_imports([]).
+pre_register_imports([parsed(runnable, _, ['import!', _, File])|Rest]) :- !,
+    catch(pre_register_from_file(File), _, true),
+    pre_register_imports(Rest).
+pre_register_imports([_|Rest]) :- pre_register_imports(Rest).
+
+% Parse an imported file to register its function names and arities, with cycle detection
+pre_register_from_file(File) :-
+    atom(File),
+    atom_string(File, SFile),
+    working_dir(Base),
+    \+ file_name_extension(_, 'py', SFile),
+    ( Path = SFile ; atomic_list_concat([Base, '/', SFile], Path) ),
+    ensure_metta_ext(Path, PathWithExt),
+    exists_file(PathWithExt),
+    ( imported_file(PathWithExt) -> true
+    ;   assertz(imported_file(PathWithExt)),
+        read_file_to_string(PathWithExt, S, []),
+        string_codes(S, Cs),
+        strip(Cs, 0, Codes),
+        phrase(top_forms(Forms, 1), Codes),
+        maplist(parse_form, Forms, ParsedForms),
+        pre_register_imports(ParsedForms),
+        forall(member(parsed(function, _, Term), ParsedForms),
+            ( add_sexp('&self', Term),
+              translate_clause(Term, Clause),
+              assertz(Clause, Ref),
+              assertz(translated_from(Ref, Term))
+            )
+        )
+    ).
+
 %First pass to convert MeTTa to Prolog Terms and register functions:
 parse_form(form(S), parsed(T, S, Term)) :- sread(S, Term),
                                            ( Term = [=, [F|W], _], atom(F) -> register_fun(F), length(W, N), Arity is N + 1, assertz(arity(F,Arity)), T=function
@@ -28,6 +64,24 @@
                                                         ( silent(true) -> true ; swrite(Term,STerm),
                                                                                  format("\e[33m--> metta sexpr -->~n\e[36m~w~n", [STerm]),
                                                                                  format("\e[33m^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~n\e[0m") ).
+% Add runtime cycle detection for import!
+process_form(_, parsed(runnable, FormStr, ['import!', _, File]), Result) :-
+    atom(File),
+    atom_string(File, SFile),
+    working_dir(Base),
+    \+ file_name_extension(_, 'py', SFile),
+    ( Path = SFile ; atomic_list_concat([Base, '/', SFile], Path) ),
+    ensure_metta_ext(Path, PathWithExt),
+    exists_file(PathWithExt),
+    ( imported_file(PathWithExt) -> Result = []
+    ;   assertz(imported_file(PathWithExt)),
+        translate_expr([collapse, ['import!', _, File]], Goals, Result),
+        ( silent(true) -> true ; format("\e[33m--> metta runnable  -->~n\e[36m!~w~n\e[33m-->  prolog goal  -->\e[35m ~n", [FormStr]),
+                                 forall(member(G, Goals), portray_clause((:- G))),
+                                 format("\e[33m^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~n\e[0m") ),
+        call_goals(Goals)
+    ).
+% Fallback for other runnables
 process_form(_, parsed(runnable, FormStr, Term), Result) :- translate_expr([collapse, Term], Goals, Result),
                                                             ( silent(true) -> true ; format("\e[33m--> metta runnable  -->~n\e[36m!~w~n\e[33m-->  prolog goal  -->\e[35m ~n", [FormStr]),
                                                                                      forall(member(G, Goals), portray_clause((:- G))),