diff --git a/django/utils/simplejson/__init__.py b/django/utils/simplejson/__init__.py
index a9418da6c6..2fb3733d11 100644
--- a/django/utils/simplejson/__init__.py
+++ b/django/utils/simplejson/__init__.py
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ if not use_system_version:
 
         use_system_version = True
         # Make sure we copy over the version. See #17071
-        __version__ = json.__version__
+        from json import __version__ as json_version
+        __version__ = json_version
     except (ImportError, NameError):
         pass