--- a/Lib/argparse.py
+++ b/Lib/argparse.py
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ __all__ = [
 
 import os as _os
 import re as _re
-import shutil as _shutil
 import sys as _sys
 
 try:
@@ -175,8 +174,12 @@ class HelpFormatter(object):
 
         # default setting for width
         if width is None:
-            width = _shutil.get_terminal_size().columns
-            width -= 2
+            try:
+                import shutil as _shutil
+                width = _shutil.get_terminal_size().columns
+                width -= 2
+            except ImportError:
+                width = 70
 
         self._prog = prog
         self._indent_increment = indent_increment