diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
index e620b48a5..c0d4cf947 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/cu2qu.py
@@ -17,13 +17,10 @@
 
 try:
     import cython
-
-    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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 import math
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
index 5411ff99f..1b37ade8d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/bezierTools.py
@@ -9,13 +9,10 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 
 try:
     import cython
-
-    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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 
 EPSILON = 1e-9
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
index 3a8819c77..4dea41840 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/symfont.py
@@ -121,13 +121,10 @@ def printGreenPen(penName, funcs, file=sys.stdout, docstring=None):
         """from fontTools.pens.basePen import BasePen, OpenContourError
 try:
 	import cython
-
-	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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 
 __all__ = ["%s"]
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py b/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
index 2afb8fdbd..77ead9fc3 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/pens/momentsPen.py
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@ from fontTools.pens.basePen import BasePen, OpenContourError
 
 try:
     import cython
-
-    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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 
 __all__ = ["MomentsPen"]
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py b/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
index 97a665f63..8fe3e18b0 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/qu2cu/qu2cu.py
@@ -18,13 +18,10 @@
 
 try:
     import cython
-
-    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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 from fontTools.misc.bezierTools import splitCubicAtTC
 from collections import namedtuple
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
index 76555f350..41be6ba4f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/iup.py
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 try:
     import cython
-
-    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
+COMPILED = cython.compiled
 
 from typing import (
     Sequence,