diff --git a/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/helpers.py b/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/helpers.py
index 07da3f94e28..5ff75eb8270 100644
--- a/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/helpers.py
+++ b/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/helpers.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # ==========================================================================*/
 
+import importlib
+from importlib.metadata import metadata
 import os
 import re
 import functools
@@ -24,17 +26,17 @@
 
 _HAVE_XARRAY = False
 try:
-    import xarray as xr
+    metadata('xarray')
 
     _HAVE_XARRAY = True
 except ImportError:
     pass
 _HAVE_TORCH = False
 try:
-    import torch
+    metadata('torch')
 
     _HAVE_TORCH = True
-except ImportError:
+except importlib.metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
     pass
 
 
@@ -84,6 +86,10 @@ def accept_array_like_xarray_torch(image_filter):
     If a xarray DataArray is passed as an input, output itk.Image's are converted to xarray.DataArray's."""
     import numpy as np
     import itk
+    if _HAVE_XARRAY:
+        import xarray as xr
+    if _HAVE_TORCH:
+        import torch
 
     @functools.wraps(image_filter)
     def image_filter_wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/types.py b/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/types.py
index 643f407e727..524c3a5868e 100644
--- a/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/types.py
+++ b/Wrapping/Generators/Python/itk/support/types.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # ==========================================================================*/
 
+import importlib
+from importlib.metadata import metadata
 from typing import Union, Optional, Tuple, TYPE_CHECKING
 import os
 
@@ -26,17 +28,17 @@
 
 _HAVE_XARRAY = False
 try:
-    import xarray as xr
+    metadata('xarray')
 
     _HAVE_XARRAY = True
-except ImportError:
+except importlib.metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
     pass
 _HAVE_TORCH = False
 try:
-    import torch
+    metadata('torch')
 
     _HAVE_TORCH = True
-except ImportError:
+except importlib.metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
     pass
 
 # noinspection PyPep8Naming
@@ -218,11 +220,11 @@ def initialize_c_types_once() -> (
 ImageOrImageSource = Union[ImageBase, ImageSource]
 # Can be coerced into an itk.ImageBase
 if _HAVE_XARRAY and _HAVE_TORCH:
-    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, xr.DataArray, torch.Tensor]
+    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, "xr.DataArray", "torch.Tensor"]
 elif _HAVE_XARRAY:
-    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, xr.DataArray]
+    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, "xr.DataArray"]
 elif _HAVE_TORCH:
-    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, torch.Tensor]
+    ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike, "torch.Tensor"]
 else:
     ImageLike = Union[ImageBase, ArrayLike]