diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/detect.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/detect.py
index dea70a2ea..cdfdd13ce 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/detect.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/detect.py
@@ -14,10 +14,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from .base import ExternalDependency, DependencyException, DependencyMethods, NotFoundDependency
-from .cmake import CMakeDependency
-from .dub import DubDependency
-from .framework import ExtraFrameworkDependency
-from .pkgconfig import PkgConfigDependency
 
 from ..mesonlib import listify, MachineChoice, PerMachine
 from .. import mlog
@@ -201,21 +197,25 @@ def _build_external_dependency_list(name: str, env: 'Environment', for_machine:
 
     # Exclusive to when it is explicitly requested
     if 'dub' in methods:
+        from .dub import DubDependency
         candidates.append(functools.partial(DubDependency, name, env, kwargs))
 
     # Preferred first candidate for auto.
     if 'pkg-config' in methods:
+        from .pkgconfig import PkgConfigDependency
         candidates.append(functools.partial(PkgConfigDependency, name, env, kwargs))
 
     # On OSX only, try framework dependency detector.
     if 'extraframework' in methods:
         if env.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
+            from .framework import ExtraFrameworkDependency
             candidates.append(functools.partial(ExtraFrameworkDependency, name, env, kwargs))
 
     # Only use CMake:
     # - if it's explicitly requested
     # - as a last resort, since it might not work 100% (see #6113)
     if 'cmake' in methods:
+        from .cmake import CMakeDependency
         candidates.append(functools.partial(CMakeDependency, name, env, kwargs))
 
     return candidates
diff --git a/test cases/unit/113 empty project/expected_mods.json b/test cases/unit/113 empty project/expected_mods.json
index 2e7c2892a..9ad84d482 100644
--- a/test cases/unit/113 empty project/expected_mods.json	
+++ b/test cases/unit/113 empty project/expected_mods.json	
@@ -208,7 +208,6 @@
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.cuda",
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.detect",
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.dev",
-      "mesonbuild.dependencies.dub",
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.factory",
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.framework",
       "mesonbuild.dependencies.hdf5",
@@ -272,6 +271,6 @@
       "mesonbuild.wrap",
       "mesonbuild.wrap.wrap"
     ],
-    "count": 98
+    "count": 97
   }
 }
diff --git a/unittests/platformagnostictests.py b/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
index bbc34c920..be90ee62d 100644
--- a/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
+++ b/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
@@ -253,4 +253,4 @@ class PlatformAgnosticTests(BasePlatformTests):
             expected = json.load(f)['meson']['modules']
 
         self.assertEqual(data['modules'], expected)
-        self.assertEqual(data['count'], 98)
+        self.assertEqual(data['count'], 97)