diff --git a/channels/auth.py b/channels/auth.py
index 06e826b..90eaaff 100644
--- a/channels/auth.py
+++ b/channels/auth.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ def http_session_user(func):
         if not hasattr(message, "http_session"):
             raise ValueError("Did not see a http session to get auth from")
         if message.http_session is None:
+            # Inner import to avoid reaching into models before load complete
+            from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
             message.user = AnonymousUser()
         # Otherwise, be a bit naughty and make a fake Request with just
         # a "session" attribute (later on, perhaps refactor contrib.auth to