diff --git a/Lib/pathlib/_local.py b/Lib/pathlib/_local.py
index 674c98e1b3050e..51abe58410bc7c 100644
--- a/Lib/pathlib/_local.py
+++ b/Lib/pathlib/_local.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import operator
 import os
 import posixpath
-import shutil
 import sys
 from glob import _StringGlobber
 from itertools import chain
@@ -824,7 +823,10 @@ def rmdir(self):
         """
         os.rmdir(self)
 
-    _rmtree = shutil.rmtree
+    def _rmtree(self):
+        # Lazy import to improve module import time
+        import shutil
+        shutil.rmtree(self)
 
     def rename(self, target):
         """