diff --git a/awips/stomp.py b/awips/stomp.py
index 219c369..59ff604 100644
--- a/awips/stomp.py
+++ b/awips/stomp.py
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ import random
 import re
 import socket
 import sys
-import _thread
 import threading
 import time
 import types
@@ -95,6 +94,11 @@ import xml.dom.minidom
 from io import StringIO
 from functools import reduce
 
+try:
+    import _thread
+except ImportError:
+    import thread
+
 #
 # stomp.py version number
 #