diff --git a/tests/test_istr.py b/tests/test_istr.py
index 4e4d4e237..b656c0ffa 100644
--- a/tests/test_istr.py
+++ b/tests/test_istr.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 
 if USE_CYTHON:
     from multidict._multidict import istr
+else:
+    from multidict import istr
 
 
 IMPLEMENTATION = getattr(sys, "implementation")  # to suppress mypy error