diff --git a/tests/rest/client/test_media.py b/tests/rest/client/test_media.py
index e14e01cb7a3..a20fe698eed 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/test_media.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/test_media.py
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@
 from tests.test_utils import SMALL_PNG
 from tests.unittest import override_config
 
+try:
+    import lxml
+except ImportError:
+    lxml = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
+
 
 class UnstableMediaDomainBlockingTests(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
     remote_media_id = "doesnotmatter"
@@ -163,10 +168,6 @@ def test_remote_media_thumbnail_normally_unblocked(self) -> None:
 
 
 class UnstableURLPreviewTests(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
-    try:
-        import lxml
-    except ImportError:
-        lxml = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
     if not lxml:
         skip = "url preview feature requires lxml"