diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index b0e076203..872441abc 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@ from django.template import Context, RequestContext, Template
 from django.utils import six
 from django.views.generic import View
 
-try:
-    import importlib  # Available in Python 3.1+
-except ImportError:
-    from django.utils import importlib  # Will be removed in Django 1.9
-
 
 try:
     from django.urls import (
diff --git a/rest_framework/settings.py b/rest_framework/settings.py
index 6d9ed2355..b699d7caf 100644
--- a/rest_framework/settings.py
+++ b/rest_framework/settings.py
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ REST framework settings, checking for user settings first, then falling
 back to the defaults.
 """
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from importlib import import_module
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.test.signals import setting_changed
 from django.utils import six
 
 from rest_framework import ISO_8601
-from rest_framework.compat import importlib
 
 DEFAULTS = {
     # Base API policies
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def import_from_string(val, setting_name):
         # Nod to tastypie's use of importlib.
         parts = val.split('.')
         module_path, class_name = '.'.join(parts[:-1]), parts[-1]
-        module = importlib.import_module(module_path)
+        module = import_module(module_path)
         return getattr(module, class_name)
     except (ImportError, AttributeError) as e:
         msg = "Could not import '%s' for API setting '%s'. %s: %s." % (val, setting_name, e.__class__.__name__, e)