diff --git a/pytools/__init__.py b/pytools/__init__.py
index c096e99ff65b8dd0c852275ef4b82a2fea2d5ad9..978352257de801ad87898a49d7b9eda13a155e20 100644
--- a/pytools/__init__.py
+++ b/pytools/__init__.py
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ Helpers for :mod:`numpy`
 Timing data
 -----------
 
+.. data:: SUPPORTS_PROCESS_TIME
+
+   A :class:`bool` indicating whether :class:`ProcessTimer` measures elapsed
+   process time (available on Python 3.3+).
+
 .. autoclass:: ProcessTimer
 
 Log utilities
@@ -2083,6 +2088,9 @@ def reshaped_view(a, newshape):
 
 # {{{ process timer
 
+SUPPORTS_PROCESS_TIME = (sys.version_info >= (3, 3))
+
+
 class ProcessTimer(object):
     """Measures elapsed wall time and process time.
 
@@ -2102,7 +2110,7 @@ class ProcessTimer(object):
 
     def __init__(self):
         import time
-        if sys.version_info >= (3, 3):
+        if SUPPORTS_PROCESS_TIME:
             self.perf_counter_start = time.perf_counter()
             self.process_time_start = time.process_time()
 
@@ -2120,7 +2128,7 @@ class ProcessTimer(object):
         # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
 
         import time
-        if sys.version_info >= (3, 3):
+        if SUPPORTS_PROCESS_TIME:
             self.wall_elapsed = time.perf_counter() - self.perf_counter_start
             self.process_elapsed = time.process_time() - self.process_time_start