diff --git a/grudge/dof_desc.py b/grudge/dof_desc.py
index f3a567a3897a1235d56def1c500b9f56c401386a..4481f5766faee95a206e058d2f416a42f61478c2 100644
--- a/grudge/dof_desc.py
+++ b/grudge/dof_desc.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from meshmode.discretization.connection import \
 from meshmode.mesh import \
     BTAG_PARTITION, BTAG_ALL, BTAG_REALLY_ALL, BTAG_NONE
 from warnings import warn
+import sys
 
 
 __doc__ = """
@@ -320,8 +321,6 @@ def __getattr__(name):
     raise AttributeError(f"module {__name__} has no attribute {name}")
 
 
-import sys
-
 if sys.version_info < (3, 7):
     QTAG_NONE = DISCR_TAG_BASE
     QTAG_MODAL = DISCR_TAG_MODAL