diff --git a/django/utils/html_parser.py b/django/utils/html_parser.py
index efe54227d3..ab1f654978 100644
--- a/django/utils/html_parser.py
+++ b/django/utils/html_parser.py
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ use_workaround = (
     (current_version >= (3, 0) and current_version < (3, 2, 3))
 )
 
-HTMLParseError = _html_parser.HTMLParseError
+try:
+    HTMLParseError = _html_parser.HTMLParseError
+except AttributeError:
+    # create a dummy class for Python 3.5+ where it's been removed
+    class HTMLParseError(Exception):
+        pass
 
 if not use_workaround:
     if current_version >= (3, 4):