diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
index dbbf106f680964..c6a66a1bc963c3 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 import tempfile
 import itertools
 
-import _multiprocessing
 
 from . import util
 
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@
 _ForkingPickler = reduction.ForkingPickler
 
 try:
+    import _multiprocessing
     import _winapi
     from _winapi import WAIT_OBJECT_0, WAIT_ABANDONED_0, WAIT_TIMEOUT, INFINITE
 except ImportError: