diff --git a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
index 7d05ef0ac..6e15efab6 100644
--- a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
+++ b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ from abc import abstractmethod
 import serial
 from Queue import Queue
 
-import commissioner
-from commissioner_impl import OTCommissioner
-
 TESTHARNESS_1_1 = '1.1'
 TESTHARNESS_1_2 = '1.2'
 
@@ -74,6 +71,9 @@ if TESTHARNESS_VERSION == TESTHARNESS_1_2:
     from GRLLibs.UtilityModules.enums import (
         DevCapb,)
 
+    import commissioner
+    from commissioner_impl import OTCommissioner
+
 from IThci import IThci
 
 LINESEPX = re.compile(r'\r\n|\n')