diff --git a/nova/log.py b/nova/log.py
index 3b86d78e8..b1dfd9ed2 100644
--- a/nova/log.py
+++ b/nova/log.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import logging.handlers
 import os
 import sys
 import traceback
+import stat
 
 import nova
 from nova import flags
@@ -258,7 +259,6 @@ class NovaRootLogger(NovaLogger):
                 self.addHandler(self.filelog)
                 self.logpath = logpath
 
-                import stat
                 st = os.stat(self.logpath)
                 if st.st_mode != (stat.S_IFREG | FLAGS.logfile_mode):
                     os.chmod(self.logpath, FLAGS.logfile_mode)