diff --git a/Tests/test_features.py b/Tests/test_features.py
index 807782847..ed7929973 100644
--- a/Tests/test_features.py
+++ b/Tests/test_features.py
@@ -56,17 +56,17 @@ def test_version() -> None:
 
 def test_webp_transparency() -> None:
     with pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning):
-        assert features.check("transp_webp") == features.check_module("webp")
+        assert (features.check("transp_webp") or False) == features.check_module("webp")
 
 
 def test_webp_mux() -> None:
     with pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning):
-        assert features.check("webp_mux") == features.check_module("webp")
+        assert (features.check("webp_mux") or False) == features.check_module("webp")
 
 
 def test_webp_anim() -> None:
     with pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning):
-        assert features.check("webp_anim") == features.check_module("webp")
+        assert (features.check("webp_anim") or False) == features.check_module("webp")
 
 
 @skip_unless_feature("libjpeg_turbo")
diff --git a/src/PIL/features.py b/src/PIL/features.py
index 24c5ee978..75d59e01c 100644
--- a/src/PIL/features.py
+++ b/src/PIL/features.py
@@ -146,10 +146,11 @@ def check_feature(feature: str) -> bool | None:
 
     module, flag, ver = features[feature]
 
+    if isinstance(flag, bool):
+        deprecate(f'check_feature("{feature}")', 12)
     try:
         imported_module = __import__(module, fromlist=["PIL"])
         if isinstance(flag, bool):
-            deprecate(f'check_feature("{feature}")', 12)
             return flag
         return getattr(imported_module, flag)
     except ModuleNotFoundError: