diff --git a/gclient_paths.py b/gclient_paths.py
index 68a95faa8..c02500e18 100644
--- a/gclient_paths.py
+++ b/gclient_paths.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ def GetBuildtoolsPlatformBinaryPath():
   if not buildtools_path:
     return None
 
+  import sys
   if sys.platform.startswith(('cygwin', 'win')):
     subdir = 'win'
   elif sys.platform == 'darwin':
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ def GetBuildtoolsPlatformBinaryPath():
 
 def GetExeSuffix():
   """Returns '' or '.exe' depending on how executables work on this platform."""
+  import sys
   if sys.platform.startswith(('cygwin', 'win')):
     return '.exe'
   return ''