diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/types.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/types.py
index f509e8bddd..ba54608dfa 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/types.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/types.py
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ def available_engines() -> dict[str, EngineMetadata]:
             continue
 
     try:
-        import calibre_extensions.piper
+        import calibre_extensions.piper as check_that_piper_imports
+        del check_that_piper_imports
     except ImportError:
         pass
     else: