diff --git a/numpy/compat/py3k.py b/numpy/compat/py3k.py
index 25cc5355c45c..d5bb2e4c7db4 100644
--- a/numpy/compat/py3k.py
+++ b/numpy/compat/py3k.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def npy_load_module(name, fn, info=None):
         mod : module
 
         """
-        import importlib
+        import importlib.machinery
         return importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader(name, fn).load_module()
 else:
     def npy_load_module(name, fn, info=None):