diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/__init__.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/__init__.py
index 5352be041ac..1cb3222e300 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/__init__.py
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ __author__ = 'R. Oudkerk (r.m.oudkerk@gmail.com)'
 import os
 import sys
 
-import _multiprocessing
 from multiprocessing.process import Process, current_process, active_children
 
 #
@@ -79,6 +78,9 @@ class TimeoutError(ProcessError):
 class AuthenticationError(ProcessError):
     pass
 
+# This is down here because _multiprocessing uses BufferTooShort
+import _multiprocessing
+
 #
 # Definitions not depending on native semaphores
 #
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
index 523809b59c8..a67c2960e40 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ import socket
 import random
 import logging
 
-import _multiprocessing
 import multiprocessing.dummy
 import multiprocessing.connection
 import multiprocessing.managers
 import multiprocessing.heap
 import multiprocessing.managers
 import multiprocessing.pool
+import _multiprocessing
 
 from multiprocessing import util