diff --git a/grace-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/ResourceLocator.java b/grace-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/ResourceLocator.java
index 21465d6a4a..a0ee69d5ed 100644
--- a/grace-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/ResourceLocator.java
+++ b/grace-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/ResourceLocator.java
@@ -85,6 +85,14 @@ private void initializeForSearchLocation(String searchLocation) {
                     this.classSearchDirectories.add(directory.getCanonicalPath());
                 }
             }
+            File[] appDirectories = new File(searchLocationPlusSlash + "app")
+                    .listFiles(file -> file.isDirectory() && !file.isHidden());
+
+            if (appDirectories != null) {
+                for (File directory : appDirectories) {
+                    this.classSearchDirectories.add(directory.getCanonicalPath());
+                }
+            }
         }
         catch (IOException ignored) {
         }