diff --git a/xarray/backends/h5netcdf_.py b/xarray/backends/h5netcdf_.py
index 422eadc6c34..779e76c9d0b 100644
--- a/xarray/backends/h5netcdf_.py
+++ b/xarray/backends/h5netcdf_.py
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ def ds(self):
         return self._acquire()
 
     def open_store_variable(self, name, var):
-        import h5netcdf
+        import h5netcdf.core
         import h5py
 
         dimensions = var.dimensions