diff --git a/avocado/core/remoter.py b/avocado/core/remoter.py
index 7100b91810c83c7b194b5259e6bcf399396e925f..4be0695260444b008fd9109b5ff6590cbbb9aef2 100644
--- a/avocado/core/remoter.py
+++ b/avocado/core/remoter.py
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger('avocado.test')
 
 try:
     import fabric.api
+    import fabric.network
     import fabric.operations
 except ImportError:
     REMOTE_CAPABLE = False
     LOG.info('Remote module is disabled: could not import fabric')
+    fabric = None
 else:
     REMOTE_CAPABLE = True