diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_ids_unique.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_ids_unique.py
index 735441a921..6c838d2b86 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_ids_unique.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_ids_unique.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from ayon_core.pipeline.publish import (
 import ayon_core.hosts.maya.api.action
 from ayon_core.hosts.maya.api import lib
 
+from maya import cmds
+
 
 class ValidateNodeIdsUnique(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     """Validate the nodes in the instance have a unique Colorbleed Id
@@ -54,7 +56,6 @@ class ValidateNodeIdsUnique(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
         # Check only non intermediate shapes
         # todo: must the instance itself ensure to have no intermediates?
         # todo: how come there are intermediates?
-        from maya import cmds
         instance_members = cmds.ls(instance, noIntermediate=True, long=True)
 
         # Collect each id with their members