diff --git a/swh/loader/bzr/loader.py b/swh/loader/bzr/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/bzr/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/bzr/loader.py
@@ -10,11 +10,10 @@
 from functools import lru_cache, partial
 import os
 from tempfile import mkdtemp
-from typing import Dict, Iterator, List, NewType, Optional, Set, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import Callable, Dict, Iterator, List, NewType, Optional, Set, TypeVar, Union
 
 from breezy import errors as bzr_errors
 from breezy import repository, tsort
-from breezy.builtins import cmd_clone
 from breezy.bzr import bzrdir
 from breezy.bzr.branch import Branch as BzrBranch
 from breezy.bzr.inventory import Inventory, InventoryEntry
@@ -86,6 +85,21 @@
     check before dismissing the repository as broken or unsupported."""
 
 
+def bzr_clone(origin_url: str, repo_directory: str) -> Callable:
+    """Bazaar clone function"""
+    try:
+        from breezy.builtins import cmd_clone
+        closure_clone = partial(cmd_clone().run, origin_url, repo_directory)
+    except ImportError:
+        # stable python3.breezy does not define the cmd_clone yet
+        # fallback
+        def closure_clone():
+            from subprocess import run
+            run(["bzr", "clone", origin_url, repo_directory])
+
+    return closure_clone
+
+
 class BzrDirectory(from_disk.Directory):
     """A more practical directory.
 
@@ -263,9 +277,9 @@
             self.log.debug(
                 msg, self.origin_url, self._repo_directory, self._clone_timeout
             )
-            closure = partial(cmd_clone().run, self.origin_url, self._repo_directory)
+            closure_clone = bzr_clone(self.origin_url, self._repo_directory)
             clone_with_timeout(
-                self.origin_url, self._repo_directory, closure, self._clone_timeout
+                self.origin_url, self._repo_directory, closure_clone, self._clone_timeout
             )
         else:  # existing local repository
             # Allow to load on disk repository without cloning