diff --git a/Lib/imputil.py b/Lib/imputil.py
index a0099a8..8cd492c 100644
--- a/Lib/imputil.py
+++ b/Lib/imputil.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 __all__ = ["ImportManager","Importer","BuiltinImporter"]
 
-_StringType = type('')
 _ModuleType = type(sys)         ### doesn't work in JPython...
 
 class ImportManager:
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@
         # scan sys.path looking for a location in the filesystem that contains
         # the module, or an Importer object that can import the module.
         for item in sys.path:
-            if isinstance(item, _StringType):
+            if isinstance(item, str):
                 module = self.fs_imp.import_from_dir(item, name)
             else:
                 module = item.import_top(name)