diff --git a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
index a477c8d9741..dc70a1018cb 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
@@ -258,9 +258,8 @@ WHEN (new.%(col_name)s IS NULL)
     def regex_lookup(self, lookup_type):
         # If regex_lookup is called before it's been initialized, then create
         # a cursor to initialize it and recur.
-        from django.db import connection
-        connection.cursor()
-        return connection.ops.regex_lookup(lookup_type)
+        self.connection.cursor()
+        return self.connection.ops.regex_lookup(lookup_type)
 
     def return_insert_id(self):
         return "RETURNING %s INTO %%s", (InsertIdVar(),)