diff --git a/oslo_utils/timeutils.py b/oslo_utils/timeutils.py
index 1e730a18..55129184 100644
--- a/oslo_utils/timeutils.py
+++ b/oslo_utils/timeutils.py
@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ import six
 
 from oslo_utils import reflection
 
-if hasattr(time, 'monotonic'):
-    now = time.monotonic
-else:
-    from monotonic import monotonic as now  # noqa
-
 # ISO 8601 extended time format with microseconds
 _ISO8601_TIME_FORMAT_SUBSECOND = '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f'
 _ISO8601_TIME_FORMAT = '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S'
@@ -41,6 +36,8 @@ PERFECT_TIME_FORMAT = _ISO8601_TIME_FORMAT_SUBSECOND
 
 _MAX_DATETIME_SEC = 59
 
+now = time.monotonic
+
 
 @removals.remove(
     message="use datetime.datetime.isoformat()",