diff --git a/fsl/data/image.py b/fsl/data/image.py
index 54d74cfa235929c241546e487db7649323eb2960..15e597272c6578c323b448dbf5af1d2fe76248fa 100644
--- a/fsl/data/image.py
+++ b/fsl/data/image.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing  import Union
 
 import numpy             as np
+import numpy.linalg      as npla
 import nibabel           as nib
 import nibabel.fileslice as fileslice
 
@@ -456,8 +457,6 @@ class Nifti(notifier.Notifier, meta.Meta):
                                :meth:`isNeurological` method.
         """
 
-        import numpy.linalg as npla
-
         affines        = {}
         shape          = list(shape[ :3])
         pixdim         = list(pixdim[:3])