diff --git a/io_scene_3ds/export_3ds.py b/io_scene_3ds/export_3ds.py
index d25672ef5d27db0ee1fc3ea6cfd78800937e2e1f..6c59aabc49d0bc2c005043128655e5f0a110f4a3 100644
--- a/io_scene_3ds/export_3ds.py
+++ b/io_scene_3ds/export_3ds.py
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ def make_material_texture_chunk(id, images):
 
     def add_image(img):
         import os
+        import bpy
         filename = bpy.path.basename(image.filepath)
         mat_sub_file = _3ds_chunk(MATMAPFILE)
         mat_sub_file.add_variable("mapfile", _3ds_string(sane_name(filename)))