diff --git a/python/hsml/util.py b/python/hsml/util.py
index 96380b6f4..c47733d50 100644
--- a/python/hsml/util.py
+++ b/python/hsml/util.py
@@ -28,16 +28,6 @@
 import pandas as pd
 from hsml import client
 from hsml.constants import DEFAULT, MODEL, PREDICTOR
-from hsml.model import Model as BaseModel
-from hsml.predictor import Predictor as BasePredictor
-from hsml.python.model import Model as PyModel
-from hsml.python.predictor import Predictor as PyPredictor
-from hsml.sklearn.model import Model as SkLearnModel
-from hsml.sklearn.predictor import Predictor as SkLearnPredictor
-from hsml.tensorflow.model import Model as TFModel
-from hsml.tensorflow.predictor import Predictor as TFPredictor
-from hsml.torch.model import Model as TorchModel
-from hsml.torch.predictor import Predictor as TorchPredictor
 from six import string_types
 
 
@@ -105,6 +95,11 @@ def default(self, obj):  # pylint: disable=E0202
 
 
 def set_model_class(model):
+    from hsml.model import Model as BaseModel
+    from hsml.python.model import Model as PyModel
+    from hsml.sklearn.model import Model as SkLearnModel
+    from hsml.tensorflow.model import Model as TFModel
+    from hsml.torch.model import Model as TorchModel
     if "href" in model:
         _ = model.pop("href")
     if "type" in model:  # backwards compatibility
@@ -236,6 +231,16 @@ def validate_metrics(metrics):
 
 
 def get_predictor_for_model(model, **kwargs):
+    from hsml.model import Model as BaseModel
+    from hsml.python.model import Model as PyModel
+    from hsml.sklearn.model import Model as SkLearnModel
+    from hsml.tensorflow.model import Model as TFModel
+    from hsml.torch.model import Model as TorchModel
+    from hsml.torch.predictor import Predictor as TorchPredictor
+    from hsml.predictor import Predictor as BasePredictor
+    from hsml.tensorflow.predictor import Predictor as TFPredictor
+    from hsml.sklearn.predictor import Predictor as SkLearnPredictor
+    from hsml.python.predictor import Predictor as PyPredictor
     if not isinstance(model, BaseModel):
         raise ValueError(
             "model is of type {}, but an instance of {} class is expected".format(
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index 94aecc7fe..9452f5061 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -94,16 +94,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
 exclude = ["tests*"]
-include = [
-    "../README.md",
-    "../LICENSE",
-    "hopsworks",
-    "hopsworks.*",
-    "hsfs",
-    "hsfs.*",
-    "hsml",
-    "hsml.*",
-]
+include = ["../README.md", "../LICENSE", "hopsworks*", "hsfs*", "hsml*"]
 
 [tool.setuptools.dynamic]
 version = { attr = "hopsworks.version.__version__" }