diff --git a/OpenSSL/_util.py b/OpenSSL/_util.py
index a4b29e3..074ef3d 100644
--- a/OpenSSL/_util.py
+++ b/OpenSSL/_util.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 from cryptography.hazmat.bindings.openssl.binding import Binding
 binding = Binding()
+binding.init_static_locks()
 ffi = binding.ffi
 lib = binding.lib
 
diff --git a/OpenSSL/crypto.py b/OpenSSL/crypto.py
index 0ff65dc..b255ed6 100644
--- a/OpenSSL/crypto.py
+++ b/OpenSSL/crypto.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
     PY3 as _PY3)
 
 from OpenSSL._util import (
-    binding as _binding,
     ffi as _ffi,
     lib as _lib,
     exception_from_error_queue as _exception_from_error_queue,
@@ -2809,8 +2808,6 @@
     return pkcs12
 
 
-_binding.init_static_locks()
-
 # There are no direct unit tests for this initialization.  It is tested
 # indirectly since it is necessary for functions like dump_privatekey when
 # using encryption.