diff --git a/Lib/importlib/util.py b/Lib/importlib/util.py
index c94a148e4c5..284206b62f9 100644
--- a/Lib/importlib/util.py
+++ b/Lib/importlib/util.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from ._bootstrap_external import spec_from_file_location
 
 import _imp
 import sys
-import threading
 import types
 
 
@@ -257,6 +256,9 @@ class LazyLoader(Loader):
 
     def exec_module(self, module):
         """Make the module load lazily."""
+        # Threading is only needed for lazy loading, and importlib.util can
+        # be pulled in at interpreter startup, so defer until needed.
+        import threading
         module.__spec__.loader = self.loader
         module.__loader__ = self.loader
         # Don't need to worry about deep-copying as trying to set an attribute
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2024-06-07-10-10-32.gh-issue-117983.NeMR9n.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2024-06-07-10-10-32.gh-issue-117983.NeMR9n.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cca97f50a20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2024-06-07-10-10-32.gh-issue-117983.NeMR9n.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Defer the ``threading`` import in ``importlib.util`` until lazy loading is
+used.