diff --git a/ipykernel/connect.py b/ipykernel/connect.py
index 275139cae..91646b6c8 100644
--- a/ipykernel/connect.py
+++ b/ipykernel/connect.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 import sys
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 
-from ipython_genutils.path import filefind
 
 import jupyter_client
 from jupyter_client import write_connection_file
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ def get_connection_file(app=None):
     app : IPKernelApp instance [optional]
         If unspecified, the currently running app will be used
     """
+    from ipython_genutils.path import filefind
     if app is None:
         from ipykernel.kernelapp import IPKernelApp
         if not IPKernelApp.initialized():
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4d14627aa..1e4979071 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def run(self):
     keywords=['Interactive', 'Interpreter', 'Shell', 'Web'],
     python_requires='>=3.7',
     install_requires=[
+        "ipython_genutils",
         'importlib-metadata<5;python_version<"3.8.0"',
         'argcomplete>=1.12.3;python_version<"3.8.0"',
         'debugpy>=1.0.0,<2.0',