diff --git a/tools/hacking.py b/tools/hacking.py
index 1279e87e9d64..5b301d540659 100755
--- a/tools/hacking.py
+++ b/tools/hacking.py
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ def nova_import_rules(logical_line):
                 # NOTE(vish): the import error might be due
                 #             to a missing dependency
                 missing = str(exc).split()[-1]
-                if missing != mod.split('.')[-1]:
+                if (missing != mod.split('.')[-1] or
+                        "cannot import" in str(exc)):
                     _missingImport.add(missing)
                     return True
                 return False