diff --git a/ctapipe/io/toymodel.py b/ctapipe/io/toymodel.py
index 05477f4e41b..7e3683814a4 100644
--- a/ctapipe/io/toymodel.py
+++ b/ctapipe/io/toymodel.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
     SchedulingBlockContainer,
 )
 from ..core import TelescopeComponent, traits
-from ..image import toymodel
 from .datalevels import DataLevel
 from .eventsource import EventSource
 
@@ -97,6 +96,7 @@ def _generator(self):
             self.event_id += 1
 
     def generate_event(self):
+        from ..image import toymodel
 
         event = ArrayEventContainer(
             index=EventIndexContainer(obs_id=1, event_id=self.event_id),