diff --git a/betterproto/compile/importing.py b/betterproto/compile/importing.py
index 3988718..faab18f 100644
--- a/betterproto/compile/importing.py
+++ b/betterproto/compile/importing.py
@@ -64,14 +64,25 @@ def get_ref_type(
         imports.add(f"import {string_import} as {string_alias}")
         return f"{string_alias}.{py_type}"
 
+    current_package: List[str] = package.split(".") if package else []
     py_package: List[str] = source_package.split(".") if source_package else []
     py_type: str = pythonize_class_name(source_type)
 
-    current_package: List[str] = package.split(".") if package else []
+    if py_package == current_package:
+        return import_sibling(py_type)
 
-    # importing sibling
+    if py_package[0 : len(current_package)] == current_package:
+        return import_descendent(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type)
+
+    if current_package[0 : len(py_package)] == py_package:
+        return import_ancestor(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type)
+
+    return import_cousin(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type)
+
+
+def import_sibling(py_type):
     """
-    package = 
+    package =
     name    = Foo
 
     package = foo
@@ -80,47 +91,46 @@ def get_ref_type(
     package = foo.bar
     name    = foo.bar.Baz
     """
-    if py_package == current_package:
-        return f'"{py_type}"'
+    return f'"{py_type}"'
 
-    # importing child & descendent:
+
+def import_descendent(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type):
     """
-    package = 
+    package =
     name    = foo.Bar
-    
-    package = 
+
+    package =
     name    = foo.bar.Baz
     """
-    if py_package[0 : len(current_package)] == current_package:
-        importing_descendent = py_package[len(current_package) :]
-        string_from = ".".join(importing_descendent[0:-1])
-        string_import = importing_descendent[-1]
+    importing_descendent = py_package[len(current_package) :]
+    string_from = ".".join(importing_descendent[0:-1])
+    string_import = importing_descendent[-1]
+    if string_from:
+        string_alias = "_".join(importing_descendent)
+        imports.add(f"from .{string_from} import {string_import} as {string_alias}")
+        return f"{string_alias}.{py_type}"
+    else:
+        imports.add(f"from . import {string_import}")
+        return f"{string_import}.{py_type}"
 
-        if string_from:
-            string_alias = "_".join(importing_descendent)
-            imports.add(f"from .{string_from} import {string_import} as {string_alias}")
-            return f"{string_alias}.{py_type}"
-        else:
-            imports.add(f"from . import {string_import}")
-            return f"{string_import}.{py_type}"
 
-    # importing parent & ancestor
+def import_ancestor(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type):
     """
     package = foo.bar
     name    = foo.Foo
-    
+
     package = foo
     name    = Bar
-    
+
     package = foo.bar.baz
     name    = Bar
     """
-    if current_package[0 : len(py_package)] == py_package:
-        distance_up = len(current_package) - len(py_package)
-        imports.add(f"from .{'.' * distance_up} import {py_type}")
-        return py_type
+    distance_up = len(current_package) - len(py_package)
+    imports.add(f"from .{'.' * distance_up} import {py_type}")
+    return py_type
 
-    # importing unrelated or cousin
+
+def import_cousin(current_package, imports, py_package, py_type):
     """
     package = foo.bar
     name    = baz.Foo