diff --git a/lib/theo-rails/theo.rb b/lib/theo-rails/theo.rb
index 35ba258..f3cc877 100644
--- a/lib/theo-rails/theo.rb
+++ b/lib/theo-rails/theo.rb
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ def process(source)
 
           locals = attributes.empty? ? '' : attributes.map { |k, v| "'#{k}': #{v}" }.join(', ')
 
-          is_component = view_component_exists?(partial)
-          is_partial = !is_component
+          component = resolve_view_component(partial)
+          is_partial = component.nil?
 
           if is_partial
             partial = partial.delete_prefix('_').underscore
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ def process(source)
               output = "<%= render partial: '#{partial}'#{collection}#{locals} %>"
             end
           else
-            component = "#{partial}Component"
-
             if content
               output = "<%= render #{component}.new(#{locals}) do#{yields} %>#{process(content)}<% end %>"
             elsif collection
@@ -107,11 +105,12 @@ def view_component_loaded?
         @view_component_loaded ||= Object.const_defined?('ViewComponent')
       end
 
-      def view_component_exists?(component)
+      def resolve_view_component(component)
         return unless view_component_loaded?
 
-        is_capitalized = /^[A-Z]/.match?(component)
-        is_capitalized && Object.const_defined?("#{component}Component")
+        # safe_constantize ensures PascalCase
+        klass = component.safe_constantize || "#{component}Component".safe_constantize
+        klass.name if klass && klass < ViewComponent::Base
       end
 
       def translate_location(spot, backtrace_location, source)
diff --git a/spec/theo-rails/theo_spec.rb b/spec/theo-rails/theo_spec.rb
index 208d5e9..5062a71 100644
--- a/spec/theo-rails/theo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/theo-rails/theo_spec.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 class WidgetComponent < ViewComponent::Base
 end
 
+class Button < ViewComponent::Base
+end
+
+class Avatar < ViewComponent::Base
+end
+
+class AvatarComponent < ViewComponent::Base
+end
+
 RSpec.shared_examples 'theo to erb' do |name, input, output|
   let(:theo) { Theo::Rails::Theo.new }
 
@@ -146,6 +155,22 @@ class WidgetComponent < ViewComponent::Base
                        %(<Widget collection="widgets" attr1="value1" attr2="value2" />),
                        %(<%= render WidgetComponent.with_collection(widgets, 'attr1': 'value1', 'attr2': 'value2') %>)
     end
+
+    context 'component without "Component" suffix' do
+      include_examples 'theo to erb', 'evaluates simple component',
+                       %(<Button />),
+                       %(<%= render Button.new() %>)
+    end
+
+    context 'competing component names' do
+      include_examples 'theo to erb', 'evaluates direct match',
+                       %(<Avatar />),
+                       %(<%= render Avatar.new() %>)
+
+      include_examples 'theo to erb', 'evaluates direct match with "Component" suffix',
+                       %(<AvatarComponent />),
+                       %(<%= render AvatarComponent.new() %>)
+    end
   end
 
   context 'erb compatibility' do