diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Hosting/Startup/StartupLoader.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Hosting/Startup/StartupLoader.cs
index da13ebfff9..2ed642f959 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Hosting/Startup/StartupLoader.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Hosting/Startup/StartupLoader.cs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Hosting.Startup
                     throw new Exception(String.Format("TODO: assembly {0} failed to load message", assemblyName));
                 }
 
-                var type = assembly.GetType(typeName);
+                var type = assembly.GetType(typeName) ?? assembly.GetType(assemblyName + "." + typeName);
                 if (type == null)
                 {
                     throw new Exception(String.Format("TODO: type {0} failed to load message", typeName));