diff --git a/nbconvert/exporters/webpdf.py b/nbconvert/exporters/webpdf.py
index 183deeb0e..2d15b2b48 100644
--- a/nbconvert/exporters/webpdf.py
+++ b/nbconvert/exporters/webpdf.py
@@ -7,17 +7,13 @@
 import concurrent.futures
 import os
 import tempfile
+from importlib import util as importlib_util
 
 from traitlets import Bool, default
 
 from .html import HTMLExporter
 
-try:
-    import pyppeteer  # type:ignore  # noqa
-
-    PYPPETEER_INSTALLED = True
-except ImportError:
-    PYPPETEER_INSTALLED = False
+PYPPETEER_INSTALLED = importlib_util.find_spec("pyppeteer") is not None
 
 
 class WebPDFExporter(HTMLExporter):
@@ -71,7 +67,7 @@ def _template_name_default(self):
 
     def _check_launch_reqs(self):
         try:
-            from pyppeteer import launch
+            from pyppeteer import launch  # type: ignore[import]
             from pyppeteer.util import check_chromium  # type:ignore
         except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
             msg = (