diff --git a/opensearchpy/helpers/__init__.py b/opensearchpy/helpers/__init__.py
index 2aff0e3e..94771696 100644
--- a/opensearchpy/helpers/__init__.py
+++ b/opensearchpy/helpers/__init__.py
@@ -57,11 +57,8 @@ __all__ = [
 ]
 
 
-try:
-    # Asyncio only supported on Python 3.6+
-    if sys.version_info < (3, 6):
-        raise ImportError
-
+# Asyncio only supported on Python 3.6+
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 6):
     from .._async.helpers import (
         async_bulk,
         async_reindex,
@@ -70,5 +67,3 @@ try:
     )
 
     __all__ += ["async_scan", "async_bulk", "async_reindex", "async_streaming_bulk"]
-except (ImportError, SyntaxError):
-    pass
diff --git a/utils/build-dists.py b/utils/build-dists.py
index 096505b4..e6706c57 100644
--- a/utils/build-dists.py
+++ b/utils/build-dists.py
@@ -105,11 +105,12 @@ def test_dist(dist):
             f"from {dist_name} import AsyncOpenSearch",
             expect_exit_code=256,
         )
+
+        # Ensure async helpers are available regardless of aiohttp installation
         run(
             venv_python,
             "-c",
             f"from {dist_name}.helpers import async_scan, async_bulk, async_streaming_bulk, async_reindex",
-            expect_exit_code=256,
         )
 
         # Install aiohttp and see that async is now available