diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/utils/_numba.py b/python/cudf/cudf/utils/_numba.py
index fb96ad81941..10041253dac 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/utils/_numba.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/utils/_numba.py
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 from functools import lru_cache
 
 from numba import config as numba_config
-from pynvjitlink.patch import (
-    patch_numba_linker as patch_numba_linker_pynvjitlink,
-)
 
 
 # Use an lru_cache with a single value to allow a delayed import of
@@ -135,7 +132,9 @@ def _setup_numba():
             if driver_version < (12, 0):
                 patch_numba_linker_cuda_11()
             else:
-                patch_numba_linker_pynvjitlink()
+                from pynvjitlink.patch import patch_numba_linker
+
+                patch_numba_linker()
 
 
 def _get_cuda_version_from_ptx_file(path):