diff --git a/.audit/oberstet_fix_1767.md b/.audit/oberstet_fix_1767.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..62d4d20b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.audit/oberstet_fix_1767.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+- [ ] I did **not** use any AI-assistance tools to help create this pull request.
+- [x] I **did** use AI-assistance tools to *help* create this pull request.
+- [x] I have read, understood and followed the projects' [AI Policy](https://github.com/crossbario/autobahn-python/blob/main/AI_POLICY.md) when creating code, documentation etc. for this pull request.
+
+Submitted by: @oberstet
+Date: 2025-11-21
+Related issue(s): #1767
+Branch: oberstet:fix_1767
diff --git a/autobahn/websocket/__init__.py b/autobahn/websocket/__init__.py
index 502fbf231..9f9eb57b9 100644
--- a/autobahn/websocket/__init__.py
+++ b/autobahn/websocket/__init__.py
@@ -43,9 +43,11 @@
 # Step 1: Probe for NVX availability (was it built and can we import it?)
 _has_nvx = False
 try:
-    # Try importing both NVX modules to verify they're available
-    from autobahn.nvx._xormasker import create_xor_masker as _nvx_xor_test  # noqa: F401
-    from autobahn.nvx._utf8validator import Utf8Validator as _nvx_utf8_test  # noqa: F401
+    # Try importing the actual CFFI extension modules directly
+    # (not just the Python wrappers which are always importable)
+    # This correctly detects if NVX was actually built at install time
+    import _nvx_utf8validator  # noqa: F401
+    import _nvx_xormasker  # noqa: F401
 
     _has_nvx = True
 except ImportError: