diff --git a/src/_pytest/main.py b/src/_pytest/main.py
index 8aa1d584a..55bbf5b39 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/main.py
@@ -957,17 +957,18 @@ class Session(nodes.Collector):
                 node.ihook.pytest_collectreport(report=rep)
 
 
-def search_pypath(module_name: str) -> str:
-    """Search sys.path for the given a dotted module name, and return its file system path."""
+def search_pypath(module_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Search sys.path for the given a dotted module name, and return its file
+    system path if found."""
     try:
         spec = importlib.util.find_spec(module_name)
     # AttributeError: looks like package module, but actually filename
     # ImportError: module does not exist
     # ValueError: not a module name
     except (AttributeError, ImportError, ValueError):
-        return module_name
+        return None
     if spec is None or spec.origin is None or spec.origin == "namespace":
-        return module_name
+        return None
     elif spec.submodule_search_locations:
         return os.path.dirname(spec.origin)
     else:
@@ -980,6 +981,7 @@ class CollectionArgument:
 
     path: Path
     parts: Sequence[str]
+    module_name: Optional[str]
 
 
 def resolve_collection_argument(
@@ -997,6 +999,7 @@ def resolve_collection_argument(
         CollectionArgument(
             path=Path("/full/path/to/pkg/tests/test_foo.py"),
             parts=["TestClass", "test_foo"],
+            module_name=None,
         )
 
     When as_pypath is True, expects that the command-line argument actually contains
@@ -1010,6 +1013,7 @@ def resolve_collection_argument(
         CollectionArgument(
             path=Path("/home/u/myvenv/lib/site-packages/pkg/tests/test_foo.py"),
             parts=["TestClass", "test_foo"],
+            module_name="pkg.tests.test_foo",
         )
 
     If the path doesn't exist, raise UsageError.
@@ -1019,8 +1023,12 @@ def resolve_collection_argument(
     strpath, *parts = base.split("::")
     if parts:
         parts[-1] = f"{parts[-1]}{squacket}{rest}"
+    module_name = None
     if as_pypath:
-        strpath = search_pypath(strpath)
+        pyarg_strpath = search_pypath(strpath)
+        if pyarg_strpath is not None:
+            module_name = strpath
+            strpath = pyarg_strpath
     fspath = invocation_path / strpath
     fspath = absolutepath(fspath)
     if not safe_exists(fspath):
@@ -1040,4 +1048,5 @@ def resolve_collection_argument(
     return CollectionArgument(
         path=fspath,
         parts=parts,
+        module_name=module_name,
     )
diff --git a/testing/test_main.py b/testing/test_main.py
index d940dc518..345aa1e62 100644
--- a/testing/test_main.py
+++ b/testing/test_main.py
@@ -139,24 +139,28 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=[],
+            module_name=None,
         )
         assert resolve_collection_argument(
             invocation_path, "src/pkg/test.py::"
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=[""],
+            module_name=None,
         )
         assert resolve_collection_argument(
             invocation_path, "src/pkg/test.py::foo::bar"
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=["foo", "bar"],
+            module_name=None,
         )
         assert resolve_collection_argument(
             invocation_path, "src/pkg/test.py::foo::bar::"
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=["foo", "bar", ""],
+            module_name=None,
         )
 
     def test_dir(self, invocation_path: Path) -> None:
@@ -166,6 +170,7 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg",
             parts=[],
+            module_name=None,
         )
 
         with pytest.raises(
@@ -185,18 +190,21 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=[],
+            module_name="pkg.test",
         )
         assert resolve_collection_argument(
             invocation_path, "pkg.test::foo::bar", as_pypath=True
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=["foo", "bar"],
+            module_name="pkg.test",
         )
         assert resolve_collection_argument(
             invocation_path, "pkg", as_pypath=True
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg",
             parts=[],
+            module_name="pkg",
         )
 
         with pytest.raises(
@@ -212,6 +220,7 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=invocation_path / "src/pkg/test.py",
             parts=["test[a::b]"],
+            module_name=None,
         )
 
     def test_does_not_exist(self, invocation_path: Path) -> None:
@@ -237,6 +246,7 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=Path(os.path.abspath("src")),
             parts=[],
+            module_name=None,
         )
 
         # ensure full paths given in the command-line without the drive letter resolve
@@ -247,6 +257,7 @@ class TestResolveCollectionArgument:
         ) == CollectionArgument(
             path=Path(os.path.abspath("src")),
             parts=[],
+            module_name=None,
         )