diff --git a/src/pint/__init__.py b/src/pint/__init__.py
index 5706dff7e..7906be01f 100644
--- a/src/pint/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pint/__init__.py
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@
     "hourangle_second": hourangle_second,
 }
 
+# define a units equivalency for gauss in cgs
+gauss_equiv = [u.Gauss, u.Hz * (u.g / u.cm) ** (1 / 2), lambda x: x, lambda x: x]
+
 import astropy.version
 
 if astropy.version.major < 4:
diff --git a/src/pint/derived_quantities.py b/src/pint/derived_quantities.py
index 8f3373cf6..24dcb1934 100644
--- a/src/pint/derived_quantities.py
+++ b/src/pint/derived_quantities.py
@@ -141,8 +141,7 @@ def _to_gauss(B: u.Quantity) -> u.G:
 
     In cgs units, magnetic field is has units (mass/length)^(1/2) / time.
     """
-    eq = [u.Gauss, u.Hz * (u.g / u.cm) ** (1 / 2), lambda x: x, lambda x: x]
-    return B.to(u.Gauss, equivalencies=[eq])
+    return B.to(u.Gauss, equivalencies=[pint.gauss_equiv])
 
 
 @u.quantity_input(f=u.Hz, fdot=u.Hz / u.s, fo=u.Hz)