diff --git a/Lib/test/regrtest.py b/Lib/test/regrtest.py
index dae7442..edfaa9a 100755
--- a/Lib/test/regrtest.py
+++ b/Lib/test/regrtest.py
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@
             print(test, "skipped --", msg)
             sys.stdout.flush()
         return -2
-    except (ImportError, unittest.SkipTest) as msg:
+    except unittest.SkipTest as msg:
         if not quiet:
             print(test, "skipped --", msg)
             sys.stdout.flush()
diff --git a/Lib/test/support.py b/Lib/test/support.py
index e209170..9cd50a0 100644
--- a/Lib/test/support.py
+++ b/Lib/test/support.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import shutil
 import warnings
 import unittest
+import importlib
 
 __all__ = ["Error", "TestFailed", "ResourceDenied", "import_module",
            "verbose", "use_resources", "max_memuse", "record_original_stdout",
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
            "TransientResource", "transient_internet", "run_with_locale",
            "set_memlimit", "bigmemtest", "bigaddrspacetest", "BasicTestRunner",
            "run_unittest", "run_doctest", "threading_setup", "threading_cleanup",
-           "reap_children", "cpython_only", "check_impl_detail"]
+           "reap_children", "cpython_only", "check_impl_detail", "get_attribute"]
 
 class Error(Exception):
     """Base class for regression test exceptions."""
@@ -41,19 +42,32 @@
     """
 
 def import_module(name, deprecated=False):
-    """Import the module to be tested, raising SkipTest if it is not
-    available."""
+    """Import and return the module to be tested, raising SkipTest if
+    it is not available.
+
+    If deprecated is True, any module or package deprecation messages
+    will be suppressed."""
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         if deprecated:
             warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", ".+ (module|package)",
                                     DeprecationWarning)
         try:
-            module = __import__(name, level=0)
-        except ImportError:
-            raise unittest.SkipTest("No module named " + name)
+            module = importlib.import_module(name)
+        except ImportError as msg:
+            raise unittest.SkipTest(str(msg))
         else:
             return module
 
+def get_attribute(obj, name):
+    """Get an attribute, raising SkipTest if AttributeError is raised."""
+    try:
+        attribute = getattr(obj, name)
+    except AttributeError:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest("module %s has no attribute %s" % (
+            obj.__name__, name))
+    else:
+        return attribute
+
 verbose = 1              # Flag set to 0 by regrtest.py
 use_resources = None     # Flag set to [] by regrtest.py
 max_memuse = 0           # Disable bigmem tests (they will still be run with
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py b/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
index db0b194..3da5878 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
-# test asynchat -- requires threading
+# test asynchat
 
-import _thread as thread # If this fails, we can't test this module
+from test import support
+
+# If this fails, the test will be skipped.
+thread = support.import_module('_thread')
+
 import asyncore, asynchat, socket, threading, time
 import unittest
 import sys
-from test import support
 
 HOST = support.HOST
 SERVER_QUIT = b'QUIT\n'
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_bz2.py b/Lib/test/test_bz2.py
index 18d84bb..6715a02 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_bz2.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_bz2.py
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
-import bz2
+# Skip tests if the bz2 module doesn't exist.
+bz2 = support.import_module('bz2')
+
 from bz2 import BZ2File, BZ2Compressor, BZ2Decompressor
 
 has_cmdline_bunzip2 = sys.platform not in ("win32", "os2emx")
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_crypt.py b/Lib/test/test_crypt.py
index b4d0ac9..2adb28d 100755
--- a/Lib/test/test_crypt.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_crypt.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from test import support
 import unittest
-import crypt
+
+crypt = support.import_module('crypt')
 
 class CryptTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes.py
index 92c98ad..7d9abdc 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import unittest
 
-from test.support import run_unittest
+from test.support import run_unittest, import_module
+
+# Skip tests if _ctypes module was not built.
+import_module('_ctypes')
+
 import ctypes.test
 
 def test_main():
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_curses.py b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
index ed93946..3f43c11 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_curses.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
@@ -9,16 +9,19 @@
 # Only called, not tested: getmouse(), ungetmouse()
 #
 
-import curses, sys, tempfile, os
-import curses.panel
+import sys, tempfile, os
 
 # Optionally test curses module.  This currently requires that the
 # 'curses' resource be given on the regrtest command line using the -u
 # option.  If not available, nothing after this line will be executed.
 
-from test.support import requires
+from test.support import requires, import_module
 requires('curses')
 
+# If either of these don't exist, skip the tests.
+curses = import_module('curses')
+curses.panel = import_module('curses.panel')
+
 # XXX: if newterm was supported we could use it instead of initscr and not exit
 term = os.environ.get('TERM')
 if not term or term == 'unknown':
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_dbm.py b/Lib/test/test_dbm.py
index cd2ff27..35d12e4 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_dbm.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_dbm.py
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@
 
 import os
 import unittest
-import dbm
 import glob
 import test.support
 
+# Skip tests if dbm module doesn't exist.
+dbm = test.support.import_module('dbm')
+
 _fname = test.support.TESTFN
 
 #
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py b/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
index afb511c..72748f9 100755
--- a/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
@@ -3,12 +3,15 @@
 OS/2+EMX doesn't support the file locking operations.
 
 """
-import fcntl
 import os
 import struct
 import sys
 import unittest
-from test.support import verbose, TESTFN, unlink, run_unittest
+from test.support import verbose, TESTFN, unlink, run_unittest, import_module
+
+# Skip test if no fnctl module.
+fcntl = import_module('fcntl')
+
 
 # TODO - Write tests for flock() and lockf().
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_fork1.py b/Lib/test/test_fork1.py
index c9f18d9..e036661 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_fork1.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_fork1.py
@@ -3,14 +3,12 @@
 
 import os
 import time
-import unittest
 from test.fork_wait import ForkWait
-from test.support import run_unittest, reap_children
+from test.support import run_unittest, reap_children, get_attribute
 
-try:
-    os.fork
-except AttributeError:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest("os.fork not defined -- skipping test_fork1")
+# Skip test if fork does not exist.
+get_attribute(os, 'fork')
+
 
 class ForkTest(ForkWait):
     def wait_impl(self, cpid):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_grp.py b/Lib/test/test_grp.py
index 5acda52..1c1f75f 100755
--- a/Lib/test/test_grp.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_grp.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 """Test script for the grp module."""
 
-import grp
 import unittest
 from test import support
 
+grp = support.import_module('grp')
+
 class GroupDatabaseTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def check_value(self, value):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ioctl.py b/Lib/test/test_ioctl.py
index f6508c2..dcb6695 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ioctl.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ioctl.py
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
-from test.support import run_unittest
+from test.support import run_unittest, import_module, get_attribute
 import os, struct
-try:
-    import fcntl, termios
-except ImportError:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest("No fcntl or termios module")
-if not hasattr(termios,'TIOCGPGRP'):
-    raise unittest.SkipTest("termios module doesn't have TIOCGPGRP")
+fcntl = import_module('fcntl')
+termios = import_module('termios')
+get_attribute(termios, 'TIOCGPGRP') #Can't run tests without this feature
 
 try:
     tty = open("/dev/tty", "r")
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_mmap.py b/Lib/test/test_mmap.py
index a2e9f72..99cc63f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_mmap.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_mmap.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-from test.support import TESTFN, run_unittest
-import mmap
+from test.support import TESTFN, run_unittest, import_module
 import unittest
 import os, re, itertools
 
+# Skip test if we can't import mmap.
+mmap = import_module('mmap')
+
 PAGESIZE = mmap.PAGESIZE
 
 class MmapTests(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
index 29f823d..be108b1 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -17,20 +17,19 @@
 import socket
 import random
 import logging
+import test.support
 
 
-# Work around broken sem_open implementations
-try:
-    import multiprocessing.synchronize
-except ImportError as e:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest(e)
+# Skip tests if _multiprocessing wasn't built.
+_multiprocessing = test.support.import_module('_multiprocessing')
+# Skip tests if sem_open implementation is broken.
+test.support.import_module('multiprocessing.synchronize')
 
 import multiprocessing.dummy
 import multiprocessing.connection
 import multiprocessing.managers
 import multiprocessing.heap
 import multiprocessing.pool
-import _multiprocessing
 
 from multiprocessing import util
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_nis.py b/Lib/test/test_nis.py
index b4af95e..7aad33d 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_nis.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_nis.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from test import support
 import unittest
-import nis
+
+# Skip test if nis module does not exist.
+nis = support.import_module('nis')
 
 raise unittest.SkipTest("test_nis hangs on Solaris")
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ossaudiodev.py b/Lib/test/test_ossaudiodev.py
index e49cf2a..603aea3 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ossaudiodev.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ossaudiodev.py
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 
 from test.support import findfile
 
+ossaudiodev = support.import_module('ossaudiodev')
+
 import errno
-import ossaudiodev
 import sys
 import sunau
 import time
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_posix.py b/Lib/test/test_posix.py
index 2a0a876..b1a9caf 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_posix.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_posix.py
@@ -2,17 +2,15 @@
 
 from test import support
 
-try:
-    import posix
-except ImportError:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest("posix is not available")
-
 import time
 import os
 import pwd
 import shutil
 import unittest
 import warnings
+
+posix = support.import_module('posix')
+
 warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', '.* potential security risk .*',
                         RuntimeWarning)
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_pwd.py b/Lib/test/test_pwd.py
index b5a5de7..450306c 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_pwd.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_pwd.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
 from test import support
 
-import pwd
+pwd = support.import_module('pwd')
 
 class PwdTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_resource.py b/Lib/test/test_resource.py
index 7063ff9..4546349 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_resource.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_resource.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
 from test import support
-
-import resource
 import time
 
+resource = support.import_module('resource')
+
 # This test is checking a few specific problem spots with the resource module.
 
 class ResourceTest(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sqlite.py b/Lib/test/test_sqlite.py
index 611b30a..ec6f634 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sqlite.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sqlite.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
-from test.support import run_unittest
+from test.support import run_unittest, import_module
 
-try:
-    import _sqlite3
-except ImportError:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest('no sqlite available')
+# Skip test if _sqlite3 module not installed
+import_module('_sqlite3')
+
 from sqlite3.test import (dbapi, types, userfunctions,
                                 factory, transactions, hooks, regression,
                                 dump)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_startfile.py b/Lib/test/test_startfile.py
index 8d23dbb..7a003eb 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_startfile.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_startfile.py
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@
 
 import unittest
 from test import support
+import os
+from os import path
 
-# use this form so that the test is skipped when startfile is not available:
-from os import startfile, path
+startfile = support.get_attribute(os, 'startfile')
+
 
 class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_nonexisting(self):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_tcl.py b/Lib/test/test_tcl.py
index fa1727c..f0eb863 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_tcl.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_tcl.py
@@ -2,8 +2,11 @@
 
 import unittest
 import os
-import _tkinter
 from test import support
+
+# Skip this test if the _tkinter module wasn't built.
+_tkinter = support.import_module('_tkinter')
+
 from tkinter import Tcl
 from _tkinter import TclError
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_tk.py b/Lib/test/test_tk.py
index 20b3fb5..2eca27b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_tk.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_tk.py
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 from test import support
 import unittest
 
+# Skip test if _tkinter wasn't built.
+support.import_module('_tkinter')
+
+import tkinter
+
 try:
     tkinter.Button()
 except tkinter.TclError as msg:
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ttk_guionly.py b/Lib/test/test_ttk_guionly.py
index 4a9a30c..4e43a18 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ttk_guionly.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ttk_guionly.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 import os
 import sys
+import unittest
+from test import support
+
+# Skip this test if _tkinter wasn't built.
+support.import_module('_tkinter')
+
+from _tkinter import TclError
 from tkinter import ttk
 from tkinter.test import runtktests
-import unittest
-from _tkinter import TclError
-from test import support
 
 try:
     ttk.Button()
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ttk_textonly.py b/Lib/test/test_ttk_textonly.py
index 131e420..b99625a 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ttk_textonly.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ttk_textonly.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import os
 import sys
 from test import support
+
+# Skip this test if _tkinter does not exist.
+support.import_module('_tkinter')
+
 from tkinter.test import runtktests
 
 def test_main():
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_winreg.py b/Lib/test/test_winreg.py
index b4ca582..0b778b2 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_winreg.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_winreg.py
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@
 # Test the windows specific win32reg module.
 # Only win32reg functions not hit here: FlushKey, LoadKey and SaveKey
 
-from winreg import *
 import os, sys
 import unittest
-
 from test import support
 
+# Do this first so test will be skipped if module doesn't exist
+support.import_module('winreg')
+# Now import everything
+from winreg import *
+
 test_key_name = "SOFTWARE\\Python Registry Test Key - Delete Me"
 
 test_data = [
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_winsound.py b/Lib/test/test_winsound.py
index c39a233..2950bb7 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_winsound.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_winsound.py
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@
 import unittest
 from test import support
 support.requires('audio')
-import winsound, time
+import time
 import os
 import subprocess
 
+winsound = support.import_module('winsound')
+
 
 class BeepTest(unittest.TestCase):
     # As with PlaySoundTest, incorporate the _have_soundcard() check
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py b/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
index 4d28d01..71973ed 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from test import support
 
-from xml.etree import cElementTree as ET
+ET = support.import_module('xml.etree.cElementTree')
 
 SAMPLE_XML = """
 <body>
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_zlib.py b/Lib/test/test_zlib.py
index 99c8dda..71f5ecf 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_zlib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_zlib.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import unittest
 from test import support
-import zlib
 import binascii
 import random
 
+zlib = support.import_module('zlib')
+
 
 class ChecksumTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     # checksum test cases