diff --git a/tuf/download.py b/tuf/download.py
index 2378e7ce..6b56ba25 100755
--- a/tuf/download.py
+++ b/tuf/download.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 import securesystemslib # pylint: disable=unused-import
 from securesystemslib import formats as sslib_formats
 
-import tuf
 from tuf import exceptions
 from tuf import formats
 from tuf import settings
diff --git a/tuf/requests_fetcher.py b/tuf/requests_fetcher.py
index 80a9f561..25a2f9d0 100644
--- a/tuf/requests_fetcher.py
+++ b/tuf/requests_fetcher.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import time
 from urllib3.exceptions import ReadTimeoutError
 
+import tuf
 from tuf import exceptions
 from tuf import settings