diff --git a/lib/pel_utils.py b/lib/pel_utils.py
index b06124c..d361a4e 100644
--- a/lib/pel_utils.py
+++ b/lib/pel_utils.py
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
 
 import func_args as fa
 import bmc_ssh_utils as bsu
-import pel_variables
-
 import json
 import os
 import sys
@@ -16,6 +14,8 @@
 base_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 sys.path.append(base_path + "/data/")
 
+import pel_variables
+
 
 class peltool_exception(Exception):
     r"""