diff --git a/src/pluggy/_compat.py b/src/pluggy/_compat.py
index 3761cc3d..a5324b00 100644
--- a/src/pluggy/_compat.py
+++ b/src/pluggy/_compat.py
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
-"""
-Compatibility layer for legacy setuptools/pkg_resources API.
-
-This module provides backward compatibility wrappers around modern
-importlib.metadata, allowing gradual migration away from setuptools.
-"""
+"""Compatibility helpers."""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import importlib.metadata
 from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import importlib.metadata
 
 
 class DistFacade:
diff --git a/src/pluggy/_manager.py b/src/pluggy/_manager.py
index 1d7984a9..33009344 100644
--- a/src/pluggy/_manager.py
+++ b/src/pluggy/_manager.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 from . import _tracing
 from ._callers import _multicall
+from ._compat import DistFacade
 from ._hooks import _HookImplFunction
 from ._hooks import _Namespace
 from ._hooks import _Plugin
@@ -31,8 +32,6 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import importlib.metadata
 
-    from ._compat import DistFacade
-
 
 _BeforeTrace: TypeAlias = Callable[[str, Sequence[HookImpl], Mapping[str, Any]], None]
 _AfterTrace: TypeAlias = Callable[