diff --git a/kitty/utils.py b/kitty/utils.py
index 2eaf0cd87..2bd2b993a 100644
--- a/kitty/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/utils.py
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ def expandvars(val: str, env: Mapping[str, str] = {}, fallback_to_os_env: bool =
     return re.sub(r'\$(?:(\w+)|\{([^}]+)\})', sub, val.replace('$$', '\0')).replace('\0', '$')
 
 
+@run_once
+def sgr_sanitizer_pat() -> re.Pattern[str]:
+    return re.compile('\033\\[.*?m')
+
+
 def platform_window_id(os_window_id: int) -> Optional[int]:
     if is_macos:
         from .fast_data_types import cocoa_window_id
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index ebe791d0e..936be4f9b 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -39,19 +39,18 @@ from .notify import NotificationCommand, handle_notification_cmd
 from .options.types import Options
 from .rgb import to_color
 from .terminfo import get_capabilities
-from .types import MouseEvent, WindowGeometry, ac, run_once
+from .types import MouseEvent, WindowGeometry, ac
 from .typing import BossType, ChildType, EdgeLiteral, TabType, TypedDict
 from .utils import (
     get_primary_selection, load_shaders, log_error, open_cmd, open_url,
-    parse_color_set, resolve_custom_file, sanitize_title, set_primary_selection
+    parse_color_set, resolve_custom_file, sanitize_title, set_primary_selection,
+    sgr_sanitizer_pat
 )
 
 MatchPatternType = Union[Pattern[str], Tuple[Pattern[str], Optional[Pattern[str]]]]
 
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    import re
-
     from .file_transmission import FileTransmission
 
 
@@ -266,14 +265,8 @@ def setup_colors(screen: Screen, opts: Options) -> None:
     )
 
 
-@run_once
-def text_sanitizer_pat() -> 're.Pattern[str]':
-    import re
-    return re.compile('\033\\[.*?m')
-
-
 def text_sanitizer(as_ansi: bool, add_wrap_markers: bool) -> Callable[[str], str]:
-    pat = text_sanitizer_pat()
+    pat = sgr_sanitizer_pat()
     ansi, wrap_markers = not as_ansi, not add_wrap_markers
 
     def remove_wrap_markers(line: str) -> str: