diff --git a/pandas/core/config_init.py b/pandas/core/config_init.py
index 01bab472b06d04..bfbdfa2c9ff878 100644
--- a/pandas/core/config_init.py
+++ b/pandas/core/config_init.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
     is_bool, is_callable, is_instance_factory, is_int, is_one_of_factory,
     is_text)
 
-from pandas.io.formats.terminal import is_terminal
-
 # compute
 
 use_bottleneck_doc = """
@@ -287,6 +285,23 @@ def table_schema_cb(key):
     _enable_data_resource_formatter(cf.get_option(key))
 
 
+def is_terminal():
+    """
+    Detect if Python is running in a terminal.
+
+    Returns True if Python is running in a terminal or False if not.
+    """
+    try:
+        ip = get_ipython()
+    except NameError:  # assume standard Python interpreter in a terminal
+        return True
+    else:
+        if hasattr(ip, 'kernel'):  # IPython as a Jupyter kernel
+            return False
+        else:  # IPython in a terminal
+            return True
+
+
 with cf.config_prefix('display'):
     cf.register_option('precision', 6, pc_precision_doc, validator=is_int)
     cf.register_option('float_format', None, float_format_doc,
diff --git a/pandas/io/formats/terminal.py b/pandas/io/formats/terminal.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ae9a380272efa5..00000000000000
--- a/pandas/io/formats/terminal.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Terminal utilities.
-"""
-
-__all__ = ['is_terminal']
-
-
-def is_terminal():
-    """
-    Detect if Python is running in a terminal.
-
-    Returns True if Python is running in a terminal or False if not.
-    """
-    try:
-        ip = get_ipython()
-    except NameError:  # assume standard Python interpreter in a terminal
-        return True
-    else:
-        if hasattr(ip, 'kernel'):  # IPython as a Jupyter kernel
-            return False
-        else:  # IPython in a terminal
-            return True