diff --git a/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/arista.py b/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/arista.py
index e77b69a3874..d26de63068b 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/arista.py
+++ b/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/arista.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from ptf.testutils import *
 from ptf.dataplane import match_exp_pkt
 import datetime
+import _strptime  # workaround python bug ref: https://stackoverflow.com/a/22476843/2514803
 import time
 import subprocess
 from ptf.mask import Mask