diff --git a/Lib/site.py b/Lib/site.py
index 4ba078388a37b8..f1a6d9cf66fdc3 100644
--- a/Lib/site.py
+++ b/Lib/site.py
@@ -523,7 +523,12 @@ def register_readline():
             pass
 
         def write_history():
-            from _pyrepl.__main__ import CAN_USE_PYREPL
+            try:
+                # _pyrepl.__main__ is executed as the __main__ module
+                from __main__ import CAN_USE_PYREPL
+            except ImportError:
+                CAN_USE_PYREPL = False
+
             try:
                 if os.getenv("PYTHON_BASIC_REPL") or not CAN_USE_PYREPL:
                     readline.write_history_file(history)