diff --git a/lib/rubygems/specification_policy.rb b/lib/rubygems/specification_policy.rb
index 588f6a6e335d..c3c496db9b52 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/specification_policy.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/specification_policy.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-require 'uri'
 require 'rubygems/user_interaction'
 
 class Gem::SpecificationPolicy
@@ -364,6 +363,7 @@ def validate_lazy_metadata
 
     # Make sure a homepage is valid HTTP/HTTPS URI
     if homepage and not homepage.empty?
+      require 'uri'
       begin
         homepage_uri = URI.parse(homepage)
         unless [URI::HTTP, URI::HTTPS].member? homepage_uri.class