diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index f501e7fa89c..ea520e88366 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ async def async_setup_entry(hass: HomeAssistant, entry: ConfigEntry) -> bool:
             websocket_api.async_register_command(hass, websocket_subscribe)
             websocket_api.async_register_command(hass, websocket_mqtt_info)
             hass.data[DATA_MQTT] = mqtt_data = MqttData(config=mqtt_yaml, client=client)
-        client.start(mqtt_data)
+        await client.async_start(mqtt_data)
 
         # Restore saved subscriptions
         if mqtt_data.subscriptions_to_restore:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
index 70e6f573266..0871a0419e5 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ from homeassistant.core import (
 )
 from homeassistant.exceptions import HomeAssistantError
 from homeassistant.helpers.dispatcher import async_dispatcher_send
+from homeassistant.helpers.importlib import async_import_module
 from homeassistant.helpers.start import async_at_started
 from homeassistant.helpers.typing import ConfigType
 from homeassistant.loader import bind_hass
+from homeassistant.setup import SetupPhases, async_pause_setup
 from homeassistant.util.async_ import create_eager_task
 from homeassistant.util.collection import chunked_or_all
 from homeassistant.util.logging import catch_log_exception, log_exception
@@ -491,13 +493,13 @@ class MQTT:
         """Handle HA stop."""
         await self.async_disconnect()
 
-    def start(
+    async def async_start(
         self,
         mqtt_data: MqttData,
     ) -> None:
         """Start Home Assistant MQTT client."""
         self._mqtt_data = mqtt_data
-        self.init_client()
+        await self.async_init_client()
 
     @property
     def subscriptions(self) -> list[Subscription]:
@@ -528,8 +530,11 @@ class MQTT:
             mqttc.on_socket_open = self._async_on_socket_open
             mqttc.on_socket_register_write = self._async_on_socket_register_write
 
-    def init_client(self) -> None:
+    async def async_init_client(self) -> None:
         """Initialize paho client."""
+        with async_pause_setup(self.hass, SetupPhases.WAIT_IMPORT_PACKAGES):
+            await async_import_module(self.hass, "paho.mqtt.client")
+
         mqttc = MqttClientSetup(self.conf).client
         # on_socket_unregister_write and _async_on_socket_close
         # are only ever called in the event loop