diff --git a/src/bindings/python/flux/compat36.py b/src/bindings/python/flux/compat36.py
index 4f72601f5579..50aa43f0151e 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/flux/compat36.py
+++ b/src/bindings/python/flux/compat36.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import signal
 
+
 # strsignal() is only available on Python 3.8 and up
 def strsignal(signum):
     if signum == signal.SIGHUP:
diff --git a/src/bindings/python/flux/job/info.py b/src/bindings/python/flux/job/info.py
index e227272debb4..f7206c00b6e8 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/flux/job/info.py
+++ b/src/bindings/python/flux/job/info.py
@@ -572,12 +572,9 @@ def inactive_reason(self):
                 return f'Exception: type={self.exception.type}{note or ""}'
             elif self.returncode > 128:
                 signum = self.returncode - 128
-                # strsignal() is only available in
-                # Python 3.8 and up.  flux-core's minimum is 3.6.
-                try:
-                    from signal import strsignal
-                except ImportError:
-                    from flux.compat36 import strsignal
+                # strsignal() is only available in Python 3.8 and up.
+                # flux-core's minimum is 3.6.  Use compat library
+                from flux.compat36 import strsignal
                 try:
                     sigdesc = strsignal(signum)
                 except ValueError: