diff --git a/python/pyspark/testing/utils.py b/python/pyspark/testing/utils.py
index 5da6f47174382..17f74960f8c71 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/testing/utils.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/testing/utils.py
@@ -758,16 +758,25 @@ def assertDataFrameEqual(
     has_pandas = False
     try:
         # If pandas dependencies are available, allow pandas or pandas-on-Spark DataFrame
-        import pyspark.pandas as ps
         import pandas as pd
-        from pyspark.testing.pandasutils import PandasOnSparkTestUtils
 
         has_pandas = True
     except ImportError:
         # no pandas, so we won't call pandasutils functions
         pass
 
-    if has_pandas:
+    has_arrow = False
+    try:
+        import pyarrow
+
+        has_arrow = True
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
+
+    if has_pandas and has_arrow:
+        import pyspark.pandas as ps
+        from pyspark.testing.pandasutils import PandasOnSparkTestUtils
+
         if (
             isinstance(actual, pd.DataFrame)
             or isinstance(expected, pd.DataFrame)