diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/netutil.py b/confluent_server/confluent/netutil.py
index 4ff5b29e..76dddbc2 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/netutil.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/netutil.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import codecs
 try:
     import psutil
 except ImportError:
+    psutil = None
     import netifaces
 import struct
 import eventlet.green.socket as socket