diff --git a/jedi/api/__init__.py b/jedi/api/__init__.py
index 4d44759d..73d4ae60 100644
--- a/jedi/api/__init__.py
+++ b/jedi/api/__init__.py
@@ -185,7 +185,9 @@ class Script(object):
         module, = try_to_merge_with_stub(
             self._evaluator, None, module.string_names, ContextSet([module])
         )
-        self._evaluator.module_cache.add(names, ContextSet([module]))
+        if names[0] not in ('builtins', '__builtin__', 'typing'):
+            # These modules are essential for Jedi, so don't overwrite them.
+            self._evaluator.module_cache.add(names, ContextSet([module]))
         return module
 
     def __repr__(self):
diff --git a/jedi/evaluate/__init__.py b/jedi/evaluate/__init__.py
index bba7923b..0bd135c7 100644
--- a/jedi/evaluate/__init__.py
+++ b/jedi/evaluate/__init__.py
@@ -138,6 +138,12 @@ class Evaluator(object):
             ),
             self,
         )
+        # TODO remove this `if`
+        if project is not None:
+            # These imports are essential for Jedi and should therefore always
+            # be present in the module cache.
+            self.builtins_module
+            self.typing_module
 
     def import_module(self, import_names, parent_module_context=None,
                       sys_path=None, load_stub=True):
diff --git a/test/test_evaluate/test_imports.py b/test/test_evaluate/test_imports.py
index 6634bea2..27793c8a 100644
--- a/test/test_evaluate/test_imports.py
+++ b/test/test_evaluate/test_imports.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from jedi._compatibility import find_module_py33, find_module
 from jedi.evaluate import compiled
 from jedi.evaluate import imports
 from jedi.api.project import Project
-from ..helpers import cwd_at, get_example_dir, test_dir
+from ..helpers import cwd_at, get_example_dir, test_dir, root_dir
 
 THIS_DIR = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
@@ -293,8 +293,9 @@ def test_compiled_import_none(monkeypatch, Script):
     """
     Related to #1079. An import might somehow fail and return None.
     """
+    script = Script('import sys')
     monkeypatch.setattr(compiled, 'load_module', lambda *args, **kwargs: None)
-    assert not Script('import sys').goto_definitions()
+    assert not script.goto_definitions()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -402,3 +403,35 @@ def test_import_name_calculation(Script):
     s = Script(path=os.path.join(test_dir, 'completion', 'isinstance.py'))
     m = s._get_module()
     assert m.string_names == ('test', 'completion', 'isinstance')
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('name', ('builtins', 'typing'))
+def test_pre_defined_imports_module(Script, environment, name):
+    if environment.version_info.major < 3 and name == 'builtins':
+        name = '__builtin__'
+
+    path = os.path.join(root_dir, name + '.py')
+    module = Script('', path=path)._get_module()
+    module_cache = module.evaluator.module_cache
+    assert module.string_names == (name,)
+    m, = module_cache.get((name,))
+    assert m.py__file__() != path
+    assert m.evaluator.builtins_module.py__file__() != path
+    assert m.evaluator.typing_module.py__file__() != path
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('name', ('builtins', 'typing'))
+def test_import_needed_modules_by_jedi(Script, environment, tmpdir, name):
+    if environment.version_info.major < 3 and name == 'builtins':
+        name = '__builtin__'
+
+    module_path = tmpdir.join(name + '.py')
+    module_path.write('int = ...')
+    script = Script(
+        'import ' + name,
+        path=tmpdir.join('something.py').strpath,
+        sys_path=[tmpdir.strpath] + environment.get_sys_path(),
+    )
+    module, = script.goto_definitions()
+    assert module._evaluator.builtins_module.py__file__() != module_path
+    assert module._evaluator.typing_module.py__file__() != module_path