diff --git a/impala/sqlalchemy.py b/impala/sqlalchemy.py
index 3bc226344..c311868fc 100644
--- a/impala/sqlalchemy.py
+++ b/impala/sqlalchemy.py
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ def dbapi(cls):
         import impala.dbapi
         return impala.dbapi
 
+    @classmethod
+    def import_dbapi(cls):
+        # pylint: disable=method-hidden
+        import impala.dbapi
+        return impala.dbapi
+
     def create_connect_args(self, url):
         kwargs = {
             'host': url.host,