diff --git a/Lib/dbhash.py b/Lib/dbhash.py
index 4abd4f03f1e..ad94ed8efa1 100644
--- a/Lib/dbhash.py
+++ b/Lib/dbhash.py
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 """Provide a (g)dbm-compatible interface to bsdhash.hashopen."""
 
-import bsddb
+import sys
+try:
+    import bsddb
+except ImportError:
+    # prevent a second import of this module from spuriously succeeding
+    del sys.modules[__name__]
+    raise
 
 __all__ = ["error","open"]