diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
index f99053b26..0aaaf653b 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
@@ -17,10 +17,14 @@
 
 try:
     import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+    COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
     # if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
     from fontTools.misc import cython
 
+    COMPILED = False
+
 import math
 
 from .errors import Error as Cu2QuError, ApproxNotFoundError
@@ -33,14 +37,6 @@ MAX_N = 100
 NAN = float("NaN")
 
 
-if cython.compiled:
-    # Yep, I'm compiled.
-    COMPILED = True
-else:
-    # Just a lowly interpreted script.
-    COMPILED = False
-
-
 @cython.cfunc
 @cython.inline
 @cython.returns(cython.double)
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
index bdc3005c5..141279255 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 
 try:
     import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+    COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
     # if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
     from fontTools.misc import cython
 
+    COMPILED = False
+
 
 Intersection = namedtuple("Intersection", ["pt", "t1", "t2"])
 
@@ -48,13 +52,6 @@ __all__ = [
     "segmentSegmentIntersections",
 ]
 
-if cython.compiled:
-    # Yep, I'm compiled.
-    COMPILED = True
-else:
-    # Just a lowly interpreted script.
-    COMPILED = False
-
 
 def calcCubicArcLength(pt1, pt2, pt3, pt4, tolerance=0.005):
     """Calculates the arc length for a cubic Bezier segment.
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
index c9e0a10c0..0bd69a386 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
@@ -123,15 +123,12 @@ def printGreenPen(penName, funcs, file=sys.stdout, docstring=None):
         """from fontTools.pens.basePen import BasePen, OpenContourError
 try:
 	import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+	COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
 	# if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
 	from fontTools.misc import cython
 
-if cython.compiled:
-	# Yep, I'm compiled.
-	COMPILED = True
-else:
-	# Just a lowly interpreted script.
 	COMPILED = False
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py b/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
index df17032dd..dab0d10e2 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@ from fontTools.pens.basePen import BasePen, OpenContourError
 
 try:
     import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+    COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
     # if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
     from fontTools.misc import cython
 
-if cython.compiled:
-    # Yep, I'm compiled.
-    COMPILED = True
-else:
-    # Just a lowly interpreted script.
     COMPILED = False
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py b/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
index 141b00bd6..23f07c76c 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@
 
 try:
     import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+    COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
     # if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
     from fontTools.misc import cython
 
+    COMPILED = False
+
 from fontTools.misc.bezierTools import splitCubicAtTC
 from collections import namedtuple
 import math
@@ -35,14 +39,6 @@ from typing import (
 __all__ = ["quadratic_to_curves"]
 
 
-if cython.compiled:
-    # Yep, I'm compiled.
-    COMPILED = True
-else:
-    # Just a lowly interpreted script.
-    COMPILED = False
-
-
 # Copied from cu2qu
 @cython.cfunc
 @cython.returns(cython.int)
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
index 27f0ee110..84077eb1e 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
@@ -7,15 +7,12 @@ from numbers import Integral, Real
 
 try:
     import cython
-except ImportError:
+
+    COMPILED = cython.compiled
+except (AttributeError, ImportError):
     # if cython not installed, use mock module with no-op decorators and types
     from fontTools.misc import cython
 
-if cython.compiled:
-    # Yep, I'm compiled.
-    COMPILED = True
-else:
-    # Just a lowly interpreted script.
     COMPILED = False