diff --git a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
index aad636723..be54ae3b9 100644
--- a/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
+++ b/python/ray/_raylet.pyx
@@ -5,11 +5,7 @@
 
 from cpython.exc cimport PyErr_CheckSignals
 
-try:
-    import asyncio
-except ImportError:
-    # Python2 doesn't have asyncio
-    asyncio = None
+import asyncio
 import numpy
 import gc
 import inspect