diff --git a/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/__init__.py b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/__init__.py
index 1166f464a..c53c4424b 100644
--- a/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/__init__.py
+++ b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/__init__.py
@@ -2,19 +2,15 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-import os
-import json
-import importlib.machinery
-import sys
-import signal
-import os
-import io
-import subprocess
-import time
-import socket
-from pkg_resources import get_distribution
-import sys
-import shutil
+# NOTE: it is _VERY_ important that this import & setup call is _BEFORE_ any
+# other `ttrt` imports and _AFTER_ all system imports to ensure a well ordered
+# setup of the pybound `.so`. Otherwise, undefined behaviour ensues related to
+# the timing of when `TTMETAL_HOME` environment variable is set. DO NOT MOVE
+# w.r.t. other imports. This is a temporary workaround until `TT_METAL_HOME` is
+# not used anymore in TTMetal
+import ttrt.library_tweaks
+
+ttrt.library_tweaks.set_tt_metal_home()
 
 import ttrt.binary
 from ttrt.common.api import API
diff --git a/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/common/util.py b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/common/util.py
index 4f7003969..3f1b1adf8 100644
--- a/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/common/util.py
+++ b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/common/util.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 import torch
 
+from ttrt.runtime._C import DataType
+
 
 # environment tweaks
 if "LOGGER_LEVEL" not in os.environ:
@@ -19,8 +21,7 @@
     os.environ["TT_METAL_LOGGER_LEVEL"] = "FATAL"
 
 
-def ttrt_datatype_to_torch_dtype(dtype) -> torch.dtype:
-    from ttrt.runtime._C import DataType
+def ttrt_datatype_to_torch_dtype(dtype: DataType) -> torch.dtype:
 
     """Converts a PyBound `::tt::target::DataType` into a `torch.dtype`.
 
@@ -67,17 +68,6 @@ def get_ttrt_metal_home_path():
     return tt_metal_home
 
 
-os.environ["TT_METAL_HOME"] = get_ttrt_metal_home_path()
-
-new_linker_path = f"{get_ttrt_metal_home_path()}/tests"
-current_ld_library_path = os.environ.get("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", "")
-if current_ld_library_path:
-    updated_ld_library_path = f"{new_linker_path}:{current_ld_library_path}"
-else:
-    updated_ld_library_path = new_linker_path
-os.environ["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = updated_ld_library_path
-
-
 class Logger:
     def __init__(self, file_name=""):
         import logging
diff --git a/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/library_tweaks.py b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/library_tweaks.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..db743a4e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/tools/python/ttrt/library_tweaks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: (c) 2024 Tenstorrent AI ULC
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+"""
+Simple library tweaks module used to move `TT_METAL_HOME` to point to the
+mirrored TTMetal tree within the `ttrt` wheel. It is important that
+`set_tt_metal_home()` is the _FIRST_ bit of code run in this `ttrt` module.
+Thus, this file should only be included in `ttrt/__init__.py` and only run
+there. This is a temporary fix, and will need to be cleaned up once TTMetal
+drops `TT_METAL_HOME` functionality
+"""
+import importlib.util
+import os
+
+
+def get_ttrt_metal_home_path() -> str:
+    """Finds the root of the mirrored TTMetal tree within the `ttrt` wheel"""
+    package_name = "ttrt"
+    spec = importlib.util.find_spec(package_name)
+    package_path = os.path.dirname(spec.origin)
+    tt_metal_home = f"{package_path}/runtime"
+    return tt_metal_home
+
+
+def set_tt_metal_home():
+    """Sets the environment variable `TT_METAL_HOME` to point into the root
+    mirrored TTMetal tree within the `ttrt` wheel.
+    """
+    os.environ["TT_METAL_HOME"] = get_ttrt_metal_home_path()
+
+    new_linker_path = f"{get_ttrt_metal_home_path()}/tests"
+    current_ld_library_path = os.environ.get("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", "")
+    if current_ld_library_path:
+        updated_ld_library_path = f"{new_linker_path}:{current_ld_library_path}"
+    else:
+        updated_ld_library_path = new_linker_path
+    os.environ["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = updated_ld_library_path