diff --git a/src/underworld3/utilities/__init__.py b/src/underworld3/utilities/__init__.py
index 2c5638b9f..bef031533 100644
--- a/src/underworld3/utilities/__init__.py
+++ b/src/underworld3/utilities/__init__.py
@@ -2,20 +2,22 @@
 
 from . import _api_tools
 
-# get/import petsc_gen_xdmf from the original petsc installation
-import sys
-import petsc4py
+def _append_petsc_path():
+    # get/import petsc_gen_xdmf from the original petsc installation
+    import sys
+    import petsc4py
 
-conf = petsc4py.get_config()
-petsc_dir = conf["PETSC_DIR"]
-if not petsc_dir + "/lib/petsc/bin" in sys.path:
-    sys.path.append(petsc_dir + "/lib/petsc/bin")
+    conf = petsc4py.get_config()
+    petsc_dir = conf["PETSC_DIR"]
+    if not petsc_dir + "/lib/petsc/bin" in sys.path:
+        sys.path.append(petsc_dir + "/lib/petsc/bin")
 
-from .uw_petsc_gen_xdmf import *
-from .uw_swarmIO import *
+_append_petsc_path()
 
-from ._utils import *
+from .uw_petsc_gen_xdmf import Xdmf, generateXdmf, generate_uw_Xdmf
+from .uw_swarmIO import swarm_h5, swarm_xdmf
+from ._utils import CaptureStdout, h5_scan, mem_footprint, gather_data
+
+from .read_medit_ascii import read_medit_ascii, print_medit_mesh_info
+from .create_dmplex_from_medit import create_dmplex_from_medit
 
-from .read_medit_ascii import read_medit_ascii
-from .read_medit_ascii import print_medit_mesh_info
-from .create_dmplex_from_medit import create_dmplex_from_medit
\ No newline at end of file