diff --git a/models/common.py b/models/common.py
index e375507a5a7e..346fa37ae2d0 100644
--- a/models/common.py
+++ b/models/common.py
@@ -374,17 +374,19 @@ def wrap_frozen_graph(gd, inputs, outputs):
                 graph_def.ParseFromString(open(w, 'rb').read())
                 frozen_func = wrap_frozen_graph(gd=graph_def, inputs="x:0", outputs="Identity:0")
             elif tflite:  # https://www.tensorflow.org/lite/guide/python#install_tensorflow_lite_for_python
-                if 'edgetpu' in w.lower():  # Edge TPU
+                try:
+                    import tflite_runtime.interpreter as tfl  # prefer tflite_runtime if installed
+                except ImportError:
+                    import tensorflow.lite as tfl
+                if 'edgetpu' in w.lower():  # Edge TPU https://coral.ai/software/#edgetpu-runtime
                     LOGGER.info(f'Loading {w} for TensorFlow Lite Edge TPU inference...')
-                    import tflite_runtime.interpreter as tfli  # install https://coral.ai/software/#edgetpu-runtime
                     delegate = {'Linux': 'libedgetpu.so.1',
                                 'Darwin': 'libedgetpu.1.dylib',
                                 'Windows': 'edgetpu.dll'}[platform.system()]
-                    interpreter = tfli.Interpreter(model_path=w, experimental_delegates=[tfli.load_delegate(delegate)])
+                    interpreter = tfl.Interpreter(model_path=w, experimental_delegates=[tfl.load_delegate(delegate)])
                 else:  # Lite
                     LOGGER.info(f'Loading {w} for TensorFlow Lite inference...')
-                    import tensorflow as tf
-                    interpreter = tf.lite.Interpreter(model_path=w)  # load TFLite model
+                    interpreter = tfl.Interpreter(model_path=w)  # load TFLite model
                 interpreter.allocate_tensors()  # allocate
                 input_details = interpreter.get_input_details()  # inputs
                 output_details = interpreter.get_output_details()  # outputs