diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/amp.py b/evennia/server/portal/amp.py
index 1e0817b4ab..6182f8d24c 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/amp.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/amp.py
@@ -83,6 +83,14 @@ def loads(data):
     return pickle.loads(to_str(data))
 
 
+def _get_logger():
+    "Delay import of logger until absolutely necessary"
+    global _LOGGER
+    if not _LOGGER:
+        from evennia.utils import logger as _LOGGER
+    return _LOGGER
+
+
 @wraps
 def catch_traceback(func):
     "Helper decorator"
@@ -90,10 +98,7 @@ def catch_traceback(func):
         try:
             func(*args, **kwargs)
         except Exception as err:
-            global _LOGGER
-            if not _LOGGER:
-                from evennia.utils import logger as _LOGGER
-            _LOGGER.log_trace()
+            _get_logger().log_trace()
             raise  # make sure the error is visible on the other side of the connection too
             print(err)
     return decorator
@@ -282,7 +287,7 @@ class AMPMultiConnectionProtocol(amp.AMP):
             try:
                 super(AMPMultiConnectionProtocol, self).dataReceived(data)
             except KeyError:
-                _LOGGER.trace("Discarded incoming partial data: {}".format(to_str(data)))
+                _get_logger().log_trace("Discarded incoming partial data: {}".format(to_str(data)))
         elif self.multibatches:
             # invalid AMP, but we have a pending multi-batch that is not yet complete
             if data[-2:] == NULNUL:
@@ -291,7 +296,7 @@ class AMPMultiConnectionProtocol(amp.AMP):
             try:
                 super(AMPMultiConnectionProtocol, self).dataReceived(data)
             except KeyError:
-                _LOGGER.trace("Discarded incoming multi-batch data:".format(to_str(data)))
+                _get_logger().log_trace("Discarded incoming multi-batch data:".format(to_str(data)))
         else:
             # not an AMP communication, return warning
             self.transport.write(_HTTP_WARNING)
@@ -345,12 +350,9 @@ class AMPMultiConnectionProtocol(amp.AMP):
             info (str): Error string.
 
         """
-        global _LOGGER
-        if not _LOGGER:
-            from evennia.utils import logger as _LOGGER
         e.trap(Exception)
-        _LOGGER.log_err("AMP Error for %(info)s: %(e)s" % {'info': info,
-                                                           'e': e.getErrorMessage()})
+        _get_logger().log_err("AMP Error for %(info)s: %(e)s" % {'info': info,
+                                                                 'e': e.getErrorMessage()})
 
     def data_in(self, packed_data):
         """