diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
index d89eec2ef..f69d382c0 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class Aria2pFD(ExternalFD):
     try:
         import aria2p
         __avail = True
-    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    except ImportError:
         __avail = False
 
     @classmethod