diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/stds_import.py b/python/grass/temporal/stds_import.py
index 6c21dc18d5b..c8aed5f9215 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/stds_import.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/stds_import.py
@@ -344,6 +344,8 @@ def import_stds(
     # Create a new location based on the projection information and switch
     # into it
     old_env = gs.gisenv()
+    target_gisrc = None
+    old_gisrc = os.environ.get("GISRC")
     if location:
         try:
             proj4_string = Path(proj_file_name).read_text()
@@ -359,16 +361,18 @@ def import_stds(
                 _("Unable to create location %(l)s. Reason: %(e)s")
                 % {"l": location, "e": str(e)}
             )
-        # Switch to the new created location
+        # Create a temporary environment
         try:
-            gs.run_command(
-                "g.mapset",
-                mapset="PERMANENT",
-                project=location,
-                dbase=old_env["GISDBASE"],
+            target_gisrc, target_env = gs.create_environment(
+                old_env["GISDBASE"], location, "PERMANENT"
+            )
+            os.environ["GISRC"] = target_gisrc
+
+        except OSError as e:
+            gs.fatal(
+                _("Unable to create environment for location %s. Reason: %s")
+                % (location, e)
             )
-        except CalledModuleError:
-            gs.fatal(_("Unable to switch to location %s") % location)
         # create default database connection
         try:
             gs.run_command("t.connect", flags="d")
@@ -598,19 +602,22 @@ def import_stds(
             update_cmd_list=False,
         )
 
-        os.chdir(old_cwd)
     # Make sure the location is switched back correctly
     finally:
+        os.chdir(old_cwd)
         if location:
-            # Switch to the old location
-            try:
-                gs.run_command(
-                    "g.mapset",
-                    mapset=old_env["MAPSET"],
-                    project=old_env["LOCATION_NAME"],
-                    dbase=old_env["GISDBASE"],
-                )
-            except CalledModuleError:
-                gs.warning(_("Switching to original location failed"))
+            # Restore the original session
+            if old_gisrc is not None:
+                os.environ["GISRC"] = old_gisrc
+            else:
+                os.environ.pop("GISRC", None)
+
+            from .core import init
+
+            init()
+
+            # Delete the temporary session file
+            if target_gisrc:
+                gs.try_remove(target_gisrc)
 
         gs.set_raise_on_error(old_state)
diff --git a/temporal/t.rast.import/t.rast.import.py b/temporal/t.rast.import/t.rast.import.py
index 7c176eff571..6c113cec784 100755
--- a/temporal/t.rast.import/t.rast.import.py
+++ b/temporal/t.rast.import/t.rast.import.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 # %option
 # % key: project
 # % type: string
-# % description: Create a new project and import the data into it. Do not run this module in parallel or interrupt it when a new project should be created
+# % description: Create a new project and import the data into it.
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: no
 # %end
diff --git a/temporal/t.rast.import/testsuite/test_temporal_rast_import.py b/temporal/t.rast.import/testsuite/test_temporal_rast_import.py
index 4a0decbf82d..8f16a1cdc3c 100644
--- a/temporal/t.rast.import/testsuite/test_temporal_rast_import.py
+++ b/temporal/t.rast.import/testsuite/test_temporal_rast_import.py
@@ -10,22 +10,30 @@
 """
 
 import os
+import pathlib
+import shutil
 
+import grass.script as gs
 from grass.gunittest.case import TestCase
 
 
 class TestRasterImport(TestCase):
     input_ = os.path.join("data", "precip_2000.tar.bzip2")
+    new_project_name = "test_project_import"
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):
-        """Remove the temporary region"""
-        cls.del_temp_region()
+        """Remove the imported data"""
         cls.runModule("t.remove", flags="df", inputs="A")
 
     def test_import(self):
         self.assertModule(
-            "t.rast.import", input=self.input_, output="A", basename="a", overwrite=True
+            "t.rast.import",
+            flags="o",
+            input=self.input_,
+            output="A",
+            basename="a",
+            overwrite=True,
         )
         tinfo = """start_time='2000-01-01 00:00:00'
                    end_time='2001-01-01 00:00:00'
@@ -34,8 +42,35 @@ def test_import(self):
                    north=320000.0
                    south=10000.0
                    east=935000.0
-                   west=120000.0
-                """
+                   west=120000.0"""
 
-        info = SimpleModule("t.info", flags="g", input="A")
-        self.assertModuleKeyValue(module=info, reference=tinfo, precision=2, sep="=")
+        self.assertModuleKeyValue(
+            module="t.info", input="A", flags="g", reference=tinfo, precision=2, sep="="
+        )
+
+    def test_import_new_project(self):
+        """Test the project option."""
+        path = os.path.join(gs.gisenv()["GISDBASE"], self.new_project_name)
+        original_env = gs.gisenv()
+
+        shutil.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
+        self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, path, ignore_errors=True)
+
+        self.assertModule(
+            "t.rast.import",
+            flags="o",
+            input=self.input_,
+            output="B",
+            basename="b",
+            project=self.new_project_name,
+            overwrite=True,
+        )
+
+        self.assertTrue(pathlib.Path(path).exists())
+        self.assertDictEqual(original_env, gs.gisenv())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    from grass.gunittest.main import test
+
+    test()