diff --git a/neuronunit/models/backends/__init__.py b/neuronunit/models/backends/__init__.py
index b1528619c..5e45e5ae3 100644
--- a/neuronunit/models/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/neuronunit/models/backends/__init__.py
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
 warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', message='nested set')
 warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', message='mpi4py')
 
-try:
-    from .jNeuroML import jNeuroMLBackend
-except ImportError:
-    jNeuroMLBackend = None
-    print('Could not load jNeuroMLBackend')
-
 try:
     from .jNeuroML import jNeuroMLBackend
 except ImportError: