diff --git a/mongoengine/python_support.py b/mongoengine/python_support.py
index b8dd0603..df46c8dc 100644
--- a/mongoengine/python_support.py
+++ b/mongoengine/python_support.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ StringIO = six.BytesIO
 # Additionally for Py2, try to use the faster cStringIO, if available
 if not PY3:
     try:
-        from cStringIO import StringIO
+        import cStringIO
     except ImportError:
         pass
+    else:
+        StringIO = cStringIO.StringIO