diff --git a/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py b/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
index 25ce8c81684..1e6eb025b7e 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
+++ b/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import requests
+if os.name != 'nt':
+    import requests_unixsocket
 from tornado.ioloop import IOLoop
 import zmq
 
@@ -230,9 +232,6 @@ def base_url(cls):
 
     @staticmethod
     def fetch_url(url):
-        # Lazily import so it is not required at the module level
-        if os.name != 'nt':
-            import requests_unixsocket
         with requests_unixsocket.monkeypatch():
             return requests.get(url)