diff --git a/tests/patch_time.py b/tests/patch_time.py
index a93d3c8ec4f..362296ab8b2 100644
--- a/tests/patch_time.py
+++ b/tests/patch_time.py
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import datetime
 import time
 
-from homeassistant import runner, util
-from homeassistant.helpers import event as event_helper
-from homeassistant.util import dt as dt_util
+# Do not add any Home Assistant import here
 
 
 def _utcnow() -> datetime.datetime:
@@ -20,10 +18,21 @@ def _monotonic() -> float:
     return time.monotonic()
 
 
-# Replace partial functions which are not found by freezegun
+# Before importing any other Home Assistant functionality, import and replace
+# partial dt_util.utcnow with a regular function which can be found by freezegun
+from homeassistant import util  # noqa: E402
+from homeassistant.util import dt as dt_util  # noqa: E402
+
 dt_util.utcnow = _utcnow  # type: ignore[assignment]
-event_helper.time_tracker_utcnow = _utcnow  # type: ignore[assignment]
 util.utcnow = _utcnow  # type: ignore[assignment]
 
+
+# Import other Home Assistant functionality which we need to patch
+from homeassistant import runner  # noqa: E402
+from homeassistant.helpers import event as event_helper  # noqa: E402
+
+# Replace partial functions which are not found by freezegun
+event_helper.time_tracker_utcnow = _utcnow  # type: ignore[assignment]
+
 # Replace bound methods which are not found by freezegun
 runner.monotonic = _monotonic  # type: ignore[assignment]