diff --git a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
index b5dfca9752..6caa532897 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
@@ -445,6 +445,9 @@ class MetaSimObject(type):
         return cls.__name__
 
     def getCCClass(cls):
+        # Ensure that m5.internal.params is available.
+        import m5.internal.params
+
         return getattr(m5.internal.params, cls.pybind_class)
 
     # See ParamValue.cxx_predecls for description.
diff --git a/src/python/m5/internal/params.py b/src/python/m5/internal/params.py
index 8762a69e61..8225d0b059 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/internal/params.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/internal/params.py
@@ -37,8 +37,17 @@
 # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 import inspect
-import _m5
 
-for name, module in inspect.getmembers(_m5):
-    if name.startswith("param_") or name.startswith("enum_"):
-        exec("from _m5.%s import *" % name)
+try:
+    # Avoid ImportErrors at build time when _m5 is not available
+    import _m5
+
+    in_gem5 = True
+except ImportError:
+    # The import failed, we're being called from the build system
+    in_gem5 = False
+
+if in_gem5:
+    for name, module in inspect.getmembers(_m5):
+        if name.startswith("param_") or name.startswith("enum_"):
+            exec("from _m5.%s import *" % name)