diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
index 5efae5f22..8f4a41063 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ from ..utils import (
 )
 
 
+def txt_or_none(v, default=None):
+    return default if v is None else (compat_str(v).strip() or default)
+
 if not hasattr(InfoExtractor, '_match_valid_url'):
 
     import sys
@@ -35,9 +38,6 @@ if not hasattr(InfoExtractor, '_match_valid_url'):
         RegexNotFoundError,
     )
 
-    def txt_or_none(v, default=None):
-        return default if v is None else (compat_str(v).strip() or default)
-
     BaseIE = InfoExtractor
 
     class InfoExtractor(BaseIE):