diff --git a/mne/viz/backends/_qt.py b/mne/viz/backends/_qt.py
index 939f8357165..fd2f32ea4bb 100644
--- a/mne/viz/backends/_qt.py
+++ b/mne/viz/backends/_qt.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
                         _AbstractWidgetList, _AbstractAction, _AbstractDialog)
 from ._utils import (_init_qt_resources, _qt_disable_paint,
                      _qt_get_stylesheet, _detect_theme)
-from ..utils import logger, _check_option, safe_event
+from ..utils import _check_option, safe_event
 
 
 class _QtDialog(_AbstractDialog):
diff --git a/mne/viz/backends/_utils.py b/mne/viz/backends/_utils.py
index a562be909ac..0a4f42f4855 100644
--- a/mne/viz/backends/_utils.py
+++ b/mne/viz/backends/_utils.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ def _qt_app_exec(app):
 
 
 def _qt_get_stylesheet(theme='auto'):
+    from ..utils import logger
     if theme == 'auto':
         theme = _detect_theme()
     if theme == 'dark':