diff --git a/datadog_lambda/extension.py b/datadog_lambda/extension.py
index d66848ff..d1922d9d 100644
--- a/datadog_lambda/extension.py
+++ b/datadog_lambda/extension.py
@@ -1,16 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 from os import path
 
-try:
-    # only available in python 3
-    # not an issue since the extension is not compatible with python 2.x runtime
-    # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/using-extensions.html
-    import urllib.request
-except ImportError:
-    # safe since both calls to urllib are protected with try/expect and will return false
-    urllib = None
-
-AGENT_URL = "http://127.0.0.1:8124"
 HELLO_PATH = "/lambda/hello"
 FLUSH_PATH = "/lambda/flush"
 EXTENSION_PATH = "/opt/extensions/datadog-agent"
@@ -18,11 +8,22 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+try:
+    import http.client
+
+    conn = http.client.HTTPConnection("127.0.0.1", 8124)
+except Exception as e:
+    logger.debug("unable to create http connection to extension: ", e)
+    conn = None
+
+
 def is_extension_running():
     if not path.exists(EXTENSION_PATH):
         return False
     try:
-        urllib.request.urlopen(AGENT_URL + HELLO_PATH)
+        conn.request("GET", HELLO_PATH)
+        resp = conn.getresponse()
+        return resp.status == 200
     except Exception as e:
         logger.debug("Extension is not running, returned with error %s", e)
         return False
@@ -31,8 +32,9 @@ def is_extension_running():
 
 def flush_extension():
     try:
-        req = urllib.request.Request(AGENT_URL + FLUSH_PATH, "".encode("ascii"))
-        urllib.request.urlopen(req)
+        conn.request("POST", FLUSH_PATH, b"")
+        resp = conn.getresponse()
+        return resp.status == 200
     except Exception as e:
         logger.debug("Failed to flush extension, returned with error %s", e)
         return False
diff --git a/datadog_lambda/wrapper.py b/datadog_lambda/wrapper.py
index 15dec7f1..86019828 100644
--- a/datadog_lambda/wrapper.py
+++ b/datadog_lambda/wrapper.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import json
 from time import time_ns
 
-from datadog_lambda.extension import should_use_extension, flush_extension
+from datadog_lambda.extension import should_use_extension
 from datadog_lambda.cold_start import (
     set_cold_start,
     is_cold_start,
@@ -367,8 +367,6 @@ def _after(self, event, context):
 
             if not self.flush_to_log or should_use_extension:
                 flush_stats()
-            if should_use_extension:
-                flush_extension()
 
             if self.encode_authorizer_context and is_authorizer_response(self.response):
                 self._inject_authorizer_span_headers(