FIX

jklymak · jklymak · commit 44b564f4af2c · 2020-06-20T09:27:11.000-07:00
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import operator
 import os
 import re
+import sys
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -187,12 +188,10 @@ def _validate_date_int_mult(s):
     if s is None:
         return
     s = validate_bool(s)
-    try:
-        import matplotlib.dates as mdates
+    # only do this if dates is already imported...
+    mdates = sys.modules.get("matplotlib.dates")
+    if mdates:
         mdates._rcParam_helper.set_int_mult(s)
-    except Exception:
-        # this can fail at import because mdates ends up as a circular import.
-        pass
 
 
 def _validate_tex_preamble(s):
