diff --git a/direct/src/directtools/DirectSession.py b/direct/src/directtools/DirectSession.py
index 5342f31f4f..367e0e6421 100644
--- a/direct/src/directtools/DirectSession.py
+++ b/direct/src/directtools/DirectSession.py
@@ -7,10 +7,8 @@ from DirectSelection import *
 from DirectGrid import *
 from DirectGeometry import *
 from DirectLights import *
-from DirectSessionPanel import *
 from ClusterClient import *
 from ClusterServer import *
-from tkSimpleDialog import askstring
 import Placer
 import Slider
 import SceneGraphExplorer
@@ -169,8 +167,8 @@ class DirectSession(PandaObject):
 
         if base.wantTk:
             import TkGlobal
-            self.panel = DirectSessionPanel(parent = tkroot)
-
+            import DirectSessionPanel
+            self.panel = DirectSessionPanel.DirectSessionPanel(parent = tkroot)
         try:
             # Has the clusterMode been set externally (i.e. via the
             # bootstrap application?
@@ -646,6 +644,7 @@ class DirectSession(PandaObject):
 
     def getAndSetName(self, nodePath):
         """ Prompt user for new node path name """
+        from tkSimpleDialog import askstring
         newName = askstring('Node Path: ' + nodePath.getName(),
                             'Enter new name:')
         if newName:
diff --git a/direct/src/leveleditor/LevelEditor.py b/direct/src/leveleditor/LevelEditor.py
index 5b820561c3..16f233d5a5 100644
--- a/direct/src/leveleditor/LevelEditor.py
+++ b/direct/src/leveleditor/LevelEditor.py
@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@ from ShowBaseGlobal import *
 from PandaObject import *
 from PieMenu import *
 from DirectGuiGlobals import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from DirectUtil import *
 from DirectGeometry import *
 from SceneGraphExplorer import *
 from tkMessageBox import showinfo
 from tkFileDialog import *
 from whrandom import *
-import Pmw
 import Floater
 import VectorWidgets
 import string
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index 5ecf5da814..60accdb27d 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -1193,6 +1193,7 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
         self.wantTk = fWantTk
         if self.wantTk:
             import TkGlobal
+            TkGlobal.spawnTkLoop()
 
     def startDirect(self, fWantDirect = 1):
         self.wantDirect = fWantDirect
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/TkGlobal.py b/direct/src/showbase/TkGlobal.py
index c0eced46ef..3ac8ecff85 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/TkGlobal.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/TkGlobal.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-
 from Tkinter import *
-import sys
 import Pmw
+import sys
 # This is required by the ihooks.py module used by Squeeze (used by
 # pandaSqueezer.py) so that Pmw initializes properly
 sys.modules['_Pmw'].__name__ = '_Pmw'
@@ -21,7 +20,8 @@ def tkloop(self):
 # Get the taskMgr
 from TaskManagerGlobal import *
 
-# Spawn this task
-taskMgr.add(tkloop, "tkloop")
+def spawnTkLoop():
+    # Spawn this task
+    taskMgr.add(tkloop, "tkloop")
 
 
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/AnimPanel.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/AnimPanel.py
index f6927aaab9..13a311f4f9 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/AnimPanel.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/AnimPanel.py
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@
 
 # Import Tkinter, Pmw, and the floater code from this directory tree.
 from AppShell import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from tkSimpleDialog import askfloat
-import Pmw
 import string
 import math
 import types
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
index 726e9c8a32..daf2864709 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 # Import Tkinter, Pmw, and the dial code
 from PandaObject import *
 from AppShell import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 import string
-import Pmw
 import Dial
 import Floater
 import Slider
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/FSMInspector.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/FSMInspector.py
index c6df365865..990add6449 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/FSMInspector.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/FSMInspector.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 """ Finite State Machine Inspector module """
 from PandaObject import *
 from AppShell import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from tkSimpleDialog import askstring
-import Pmw
 import math
 import operator
 
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/Inspector.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/Inspector.py
index 4b6af3da06..4fa6c54c87 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/Inspector.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/Inspector.py
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 ### so that I can just type: inspect(anObject) any time.
 
 import string
-from Tkinter import *
 from TkGlobal import *
-import Pmw
 
 ### public API
 
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/MopathRecorder.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/MopathRecorder.py
index 1547b92bc0..ff4c9cd605 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/MopathRecorder.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/MopathRecorder.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Import Tkinter, Pmw, and the dial code from this directory tree.
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from AppShell import *
 from DirectGlobals import *
 from DirectUtil import *
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from DirectSelection import *
 from tkFileDialog import *
 import os
 import string
-import Pmw
 import Dial
 import Floater
 import Slider
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/ParticlePanel.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/ParticlePanel.py
index a52686b340..f6bd1b97cb 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/ParticlePanel.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/ParticlePanel.py
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 
 # Import Tkinter, Pmw, and the floater code from this directory tree.
 from AppShell import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from tkFileDialog import *
 from tkSimpleDialog import askstring
 import os
-import Pmw
 import Dial
 import Floater
 import Slider
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/Placer.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/Placer.py
index a6b3647ef1..cc2212f55b 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/Placer.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/Placer.py
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 
 # Import Tkinter, Pmw, and the dial code from this directory tree.
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from AppShell import *
-import Pmw
 import Dial
 import Floater
 
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Dial.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Dial.py
index 27ac1e8d6a..dc4c60303f 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Dial.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Dial.py
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 Dial Class: Velocity style controller for floating point values with
              a label, entry (validated), and scale
 """
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from Valuator import *
-import Pmw
 import Task
 import math
 import string
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/EntryScale.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/EntryScale.py
index 38118220c8..a6e27ed962 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/EntryScale.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/EntryScale.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 EntryScale Class: Scale with a label, and a linked and validated entry
 """
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
-import Pmw
+from TkGlobal import *
 import string
 import tkColorChooser
 from tkSimpleDialog import *
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Floater.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Floater.py
index 6ef5043abf..9012b0a68b 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Floater.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Floater.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@ Floater Class: Velocity style controller for floating point values with
                 a label, entry (validated), and scale
 """
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from Valuator import *
-import Pmw
 import Task
 import math
 import string
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/ProgressBar.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/ProgressBar.py
index 8b5c69d40c..fb160401d9 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/ProgressBar.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/ProgressBar.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 A  basic widget for showing the progress being made in a task.
 """
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 
 class ProgressBar:
     def __init__(self, master=None, orientation="horizontal",
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/SceneGraphExplorer.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/SceneGraphExplorer.py
index 228b351d71..ddaa145f0c 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/SceneGraphExplorer.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/SceneGraphExplorer.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from Tree import *
-import Pmw
 
 # changing these strings requires changing DirectSession.py SGE_ strs too!
 DEFAULT_MENU_ITEMS = [
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Slider.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Slider.py
index 410b1b2b91..32ce3bc545 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Slider.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Slider.py
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 Slider Class: Velocity style controller for floating point values with
                a label, entry (validated), and min/max slider
 """
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from Valuator import *
-import Pmw
 import Task
 import math
 import string
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Tree.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Tree.py
index bf83ac1878..2e5d99e1c9 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Tree.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Tree.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import string
-from Tkinter import *
+from TkGlobal import *
 from PandaObject import *
 
 # Initialize icon directory
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Valuator.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Valuator.py
index 5ea5333ac8..4e99afd5e1 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/Valuator.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/Valuator.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from PandaObject import *
-from Tkinter import *
-import Pmw
+from TkGlobal import *
 import tkColorChooser
 import WidgetPropertiesDialog
 import string
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/VectorWidgets.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/VectorWidgets.py
index 9fa0ce2126..3124c6f63f 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/VectorWidgets.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/VectorWidgets.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from Tkinter import *
-import Pmw
+from TkGlobal import *
 import Valuator
 import Floater
 import Slider
diff --git a/direct/src/tkwidgets/WidgetPropertiesDialog.py b/direct/src/tkwidgets/WidgetPropertiesDialog.py
index 9ea59a81f6..81685abb62 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkwidgets/WidgetPropertiesDialog.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkwidgets/WidgetPropertiesDialog.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from Tkinter import *
-import Pmw
+from TkGlobal import *
 import types
 import string