diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index d9eb5e7..d9d2fdd 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
 
 
 void
-Py_InitializeEx(int install_sigs)
+_Py_InitializeEx_Private(int install_sigs, int install_importlib)
 {
     PyInterpreterState *interp;
     PyThreadState *tstate;
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@
     /* Initialize _warnings. */
     _PyWarnings_Init();
 
+    if (!install_importlib)
+        return;
+
     import_init(interp, sysmod);
 
     _PyTime_Init();
@@ -393,6 +396,12 @@
 }
 
 void
+Py_InitializeEx(int install_sigs)
+{
+    _Py_InitializeEx_Private(install_sigs, 1);
+}
+
+void
 Py_Initialize(void)
 {
     Py_InitializeEx(1);