diff --git a/channels/auth.py b/channels/auth.py
index 0565446..06e826b 100644
--- a/channels/auth.py
+++ b/channels/auth.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import functools
 
 from django.contrib import auth
-from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
 
 from .sessions import channel_session, http_session
 
@@ -30,6 +29,8 @@ def channel_session_user(func):
         if not hasattr(message, "channel_session"):
             raise ValueError("Did not see a channel session to get auth from")
         if message.channel_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