diff --git a/xarray/tests/test_distributed.py b/xarray/tests/test_distributed.py
index 8b2beaf4767..37e949173c9 100644
--- a/xarray/tests/test_distributed.py
+++ b/xarray/tests/test_distributed.py
@@ -14,7 +14,13 @@
 
 from dask.distributed import Client, Lock
 from distributed.client import futures_of
-from distributed.utils_test import cluster, gen_cluster, loop, cleanup  # noqa: F401
+from distributed.utils_test import (  # noqa: F401
+    cluster,
+    gen_cluster,
+    loop,
+    cleanup,
+    loop_in_thread,
+)
 
 import xarray as xr
 from xarray.backends.locks import HDF5_LOCK, CombinedLock