diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/testing/conftest.py b/lib/matplotlib/testing/conftest.py
index ac79e63ccd85..b3045f37bcf1 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/testing/conftest.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/testing/conftest.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ def mpl_test_settings(request):
         yield
     finally:
         if backend is not None:
-            import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
             plt.switch_backend(prev_backend)
         _do_cleanup(original_units_registry,
                     original_settings)