diff --git a/Lib/runpy.py b/Lib/runpy.py
index fea6104..f9a29ad 100755
--- a/Lib/runpy.py
+++ b/Lib/runpy.py
@@ -80,13 +80,19 @@
     if loader is None:
         raise ImportError("No module named %s" % mod_name)
     if loader.is_package(mod_name):
-        raise ImportError(("%s is a package and cannot " +
-                          "be directly executed") % mod_name)
+        if mod_name == "__main__" or mod_name.endswith(".__main__"):
+            raise ImportError(("Cannot use package as __main__ module"))
+        try:
+            pkg_main_name = mod_name + ".__main__"
+            return _get_module_details(pkg_main_name)
+        except ImportError, e:
+            raise ImportError(("%s; %r is a package and cannot " +
+                               "be directly executed") %(e, mod_name))
     code = loader.get_code(mod_name)
     if code is None:
         raise ImportError("No code object available for %s" % mod_name)
     filename = _get_filename(loader, mod_name)
-    return loader, code, filename
+    return mod_name, loader, code, filename
 
 
 # XXX ncoghlan: Should this be documented and made public?
@@ -101,12 +107,12 @@
            __loader__
     """
     try:
-        loader, code, fname = _get_module_details(mod_name)
+        mod_name, loader, code, fname = _get_module_details(mod_name)
     except ImportError as exc:
         # Try to provide a good error message
         # for directories, zip files and the -m switch
         if set_argv0:
-            # For -m switch, just disply the exception
+            # For -m switch, just display the exception
             info = str(exc)
         else:
             # For directories/zipfiles, let the user
@@ -127,7 +133,7 @@
 
        Returns the resulting top level namespace dictionary
     """
-    loader, code, fname = _get_module_details(mod_name)
+    mod_name, loader, code, fname = _get_module_details(mod_name)
     if run_name is None:
         run_name = mod_name
     pkg_name = mod_name.rpartition('.')[0]