diff --git a/python/ray/tune/suggest/__init__.py b/python/ray/tune/suggest/__init__.py
index f3f332f1f..437ca0653 100644
--- a/python/ray/tune/suggest/__init__.py
+++ b/python/ray/tune/suggest/__init__.py
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ def create_searcher(
         >>> search_alg = tune.create_searcher('ax')
     """
 
+    def _import_variant_generator():
+        return BasicVariantGenerator
+
     def _import_ax_search():
         from ray.tune.suggest.ax import AxSearch
         return AxSearch
@@ -72,6 +75,8 @@ def create_searcher(
         return SigOptSearch
 
     SEARCH_ALG_IMPORT = {
+        "variant_generator": _import_variant_generator,
+        "random": _import_variant_generator,
         "ax": _import_ax_search,
         "dragonfly": _import_dragonfly_search,
         "skopt": _import_skopt_search,