diff --git a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
index 3977864..8410d51 100644
--- a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
+++ b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ handle lower level of the config file
 
 import os
 import yaml
+import glob
 
 # local imports
 from dotdrop.settings import Settings
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ class CfgYaml:
         allvars = self._merge_and_apply_variables()
         self.variables.update(allvars)
         # process imported configs
-        self._resolve_import_configs()
+        self._import_configs()
         # process other imports
         self._resolve_imports()
         # process diverse options
@@ -342,31 +343,64 @@ class CfgYaml:
 
         return variables
 
+    def _is_glob(self, path):
+        """quick test if path is a glob"""
+        return '*' in path or '?' in path
+
+    def _glob_paths(self, paths):
+        """glob a list of paths"""
+        if not isinstance(paths, list):
+            paths = [paths]
+        res = []
+        for p in paths:
+            if not self._is_glob(p):
+                res.extend([p])
+                continue
+            p = os.path.expanduser(p)
+            new = glob.glob(p)
+            if not new:
+                raise Exception('bad path: {}'.format(p))
+            res.extend(glob.glob(p))
+        return res
+
+    def _import_variables(self, paths):
+        """import external variables from paths"""
+        if not paths:
+            return
+        paths = self._glob_paths(paths)
+        for p in paths:
+            path = self.resolve_path(p)
+            if self.debug:
+                self.log.dbg('import variables from {}'.format(path))
+            self.variables = self._import_sub(path, self.key_variables,
+                                              self.variables,
+                                              mandatory=False)
+            self.dvariables = self._import_sub(path, self.key_dvariables,
+                                               self.dvariables,
+                                               mandatory=False)
+
+    def _import_actions(self, paths):
+        """import external actions from paths"""
+        if not paths:
+            return
+        paths = self._glob_paths(paths)
+        for p in paths:
+            path = self.resolve_path(p)
+            if self.debug:
+                self.log.dbg('import actions from {}'.format(path))
+            self.actions = self._import_sub(path, self.key_actions,
+                                            self.actions, mandatory=False,
+                                            patch_func=self._norm_actions)
+
     def _resolve_imports(self):
         """handle all the imports"""
         # settings -> import_variables
         imp = self.settings.get(self.key_import_variables, None)
-        if imp:
-            for p in imp:
-                path = self.resolve_path(p)
-                if self.debug:
-                    self.log.dbg('import variables from {}'.format(path))
-                self.variables = self._import_sub(path, self.key_variables,
-                                                  self.variables,
-                                                  mandatory=False)
-                self.dvariables = self._import_sub(path, self.key_dvariables,
-                                                   self.dvariables,
-                                                   mandatory=False)
+        self._import_variables(imp)
+
         # settings -> import_actions
         imp = self.settings.get(self.key_import_actions, None)
-        if imp:
-            for p in imp:
-                path = self.resolve_path(p)
-                if self.debug:
-                    self.log.dbg('import actions from {}'.format(path))
-                self.actions = self._import_sub(path, self.key_actions,
-                                                self.actions, mandatory=False,
-                                                patch_func=self._norm_actions)
+        self._import_actions(imp)
 
         # profiles -> import
         for k, v in self.profiles.items():
@@ -375,7 +409,8 @@ class CfgYaml:
                 continue
             if self.debug:
                 self.log.dbg('import dotfiles for profile {}'.format(k))
-            for p in imp:
+            paths = self._glob_paths(imp)
+            for p in paths:
                 current = v.get(self.key_dotfiles, [])
                 path = self.resolve_path(p)
                 current = self._import_sub(path, self.key_dotfiles,
@@ -383,14 +418,15 @@ class CfgYaml:
                                            path_func=self._norm_dotfiles)
                 v[self.key_dotfiles] = current
 
-    def _resolve_import_configs(self):
-        """resolve import_configs"""
+    def _import_configs(self):
+        """import configs from external file"""
         # settings -> import_configs
         imp = self.settings.get(self.key_import_configs, None)
         if not imp:
             return
-        for p in imp:
-            path = self.resolve_path(p)
+        paths = self._glob_paths(imp)
+        for path in paths:
+            path = self.resolve_path(path)
             if self.debug:
                 self.log.dbg('import config from {}'.format(path))
             sub = CfgYaml(path, debug=self.debug)
@@ -400,8 +436,10 @@ class CfgYaml:
             self.actions = self._merge_dict(self.actions, sub.actions)
             self.trans_r = self._merge_dict(self.trans_r, sub.trans_r)
             self.trans_w = self._merge_dict(self.trans_w, sub.trans_w)
-            self.variables = self._merge_dict(self.variables, sub.variables)
-            self.dvariables = self._merge_dict(self.dvariables, sub.dvariables)
+            self.variables = self._merge_dict(self.variables,
+                                              sub.variables)
+            self.dvariables = self._merge_dict(self.dvariables,
+                                               sub.dvariables)
 
     def _resolve_rest(self):
         """resolve some other parts of the config"""
diff --git a/tests-ng/globs.sh b/tests-ng/globs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f8b1925
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/globs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2019, deadc0de6
+#
+# ensure imports allow globs
+# - import_actions
+# - import_configs
+# - import_variables
+# - profile import
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "\e[96m\e[1m==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==\e[0m"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# the dotfile source
+tmps=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+# temporary
+tmpa=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+
+###########
+# test globs in import_actions
+###########
+# create the action files
+actionsd="${tmps}/actions"
+mkdir -p ${actionsd}
+cat > ${actionsd}/action1.yaml << _EOF
+actions:
+  fromaction1: echo "fromaction1" > ${tmpa}/fromaction1
+_EOF
+cat > ${actionsd}/action2.yaml << _EOF
+actions:
+  fromaction2: echo "fromaction2" > ${tmpa}/fromaction2
+_EOF
+
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  import_actions:
+  - ${actionsd}/*
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    actions:
+      - fromaction1
+      - fromaction2
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+
+# create the source
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/
+echo "abc" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+
+# checks
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "dotfile not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -e  ${tmpa}/fromaction1 ] && echo "action1 not executed" && exit 1
+grep fromaction1 ${tmpa}/fromaction1
+[ ! -e  ${tmpa}/fromaction2 ] && echo "action2 not executed" && exit 1
+grep fromaction2 ${tmpa}/fromaction2
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${tmpa}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0