diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/mixmaster/utilities.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/mixmaster/utilities.py
index c1d9951c0..b2ae45d6d 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/mixmaster/utilities.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/mixmaster/utilities.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ try:
         from tkinter import messagebox
     else:
         from Tkinter import Tk
-        import tkMessageBox
+        import tkMessageBox as messagebox
     _hasTk = 1
 except:
     _hasTk = 0
@@ -26,13 +26,6 @@ def _print_value(name, value, unitstr):
           string.rjust('%10.5e' %value, 15) + ' ' + \
           string.ljust(unitstr,5))
 
-def hasTk():
-    try:
-        import tkMessageBox
-        return 1
-    except:
-        return 0
-
 def handleError(message = '<error>', window = None,
                 fatal = 0, warning = 0, options = None):
     if warning: