diff --git a/nova/tests/test_api.py b/nova/tests/test_api.py
index fe29db74..f176231d 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_api.py
@@ -18,13 +18,17 @@
 
 """Unit tests for the API endpoint"""
 
-import httplib
 import random
 import StringIO
 
 import boto
 from boto.ec2 import regioninfo
 from boto import exception as boto_exc
+# newer versions of boto use their own wrapper on top of httplib.HTTPResponse
+try:
+    from boto.connection import HTTPResponse
+except ImportError:
+    from httplib import HTTPResponse
 import webob
 
 from nova.api import auth
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ class FakeHttplibConnection(object):
 
     requests made via this connection actually get translated and routed into
     our WSGI app, we then wait for the response and turn it back into
-    the httplib.HTTPResponse that boto expects.
+    the HTTPResponse that boto expects.
     """
     def __init__(self, app, host, is_secure=False):
         self.app = app
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ class FakeHttplibConnection(object):
         # guess that's a function the web server usually provides.
         resp = "HTTP/1.0 %s" % resp
         self.sock = FakeHttplibSocket(resp)
-        self.http_response = httplib.HTTPResponse(self.sock)
+        self.http_response = HTTPResponse(self.sock)
         # NOTE(vish): boto is accessing private variables for some reason
         self._HTTPConnection__response = self.http_response
         self.http_response.begin()