NEWS.rst

@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+v8.4.0
+======
+
+Features
+--------
+
+- Deferred import of inspect for import performance. (#499)
+
+
 v8.3.0
 ======
 

importlib_metadata/__init__.py

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 import zipp
 import email
 import types
-import inspect
 import pathlib
 import operator
 import textwrap
@@ -1106,11 +1105,10 @@ def _get_toplevel_name(name: PackagePath) -> str:
     >>> _get_toplevel_name(PackagePath('foo.dist-info'))
     'foo.dist-info'
     """
-    return _topmost(name) or (
-        # python/typeshed#10328
-        inspect.getmodulename(name)  # type: ignore
-        or str(name)
-    )
+    # Defer import of inspect for performance (python/cpython#118761)
+    import inspect
+
+    return _topmost(name) or (inspect.getmodulename(name) or str(name))
 
 
 def _top_level_inferred(dist):