diff --git a/nova/openstack/common/lockutils.py b/nova/openstack/common/lockutils.py
index 9f76ad5d5443..404ef2a02e18 100644
--- a/nova/openstack/common/lockutils.py
+++ b/nova/openstack/common/lockutils.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 import contextlib
 import errno
-import fcntl
 import functools
 import os
 import shutil
@@ -195,7 +194,9 @@ if os.name == 'nt':
     FileLock = _WindowsLock
 else:
     import base64
+    import fcntl
     import hashlib
+
     import posix_ipc
     InterProcessLock = _PosixLock
     FileLock = _FcntlLock
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ def external_lock(name, lock_file_prefix=None, lock_path=None):
 
 
 def remove_external_lock_file(name, lock_file_prefix=None):
-    """Remove a external lock file when it's not used anymore
+    """Remove an external lock file when it's not used anymore
     This will be helpful when we have a lot of lock files
     """
     with internal_lock(name):