diff --git a/src/rapids_singlecell/preprocessing/_neighbors.py b/src/rapids_singlecell/preprocessing/_neighbors.py
index 54b10084..cd6eefb9 100644
--- a/src/rapids_singlecell/preprocessing/_neighbors.py
+++ b/src/rapids_singlecell/preprocessing/_neighbors.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@
 
 from rapids_singlecell.tools._utils import _choose_representation
 
-CUVS_SWITCH = parse_version(pylibraft.__version__) > parse_version("24.10")
+
+def _cuvs_switch():
+    return parse_version(pylibraft.__version__) > parse_version("24.10")
+
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Mapping
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ def _brute_knn(
 def _cagra_knn(
     X: cp.ndarray, Y: cp.ndarray, k: int, metric: _Metrics, metric_kwds: Mapping
 ) -> tuple[cp.ndarray, cp.ndarray]:
-    if not CUVS_SWITCH:
+    if not _cuvs_switch():
         try:
             from pylibraft.neighbors import cagra
         except ImportError:
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ def _cagra_knn(
 def _ivf_flat_knn(
     X: cp.ndarray, Y: cp.ndarray, k: int, metric: _Metrics, metric_kwds: Mapping
 ) -> tuple[cp.ndarray, cp.ndarray]:
-    if not CUVS_SWITCH:
+    if not _cuvs_switch():
         from pylibraft.neighbors import ivf_flat
 
         resources = DeviceResources()
@@ -170,7 +173,7 @@ def _ivf_flat_knn(
 def _ivf_pq_knn(
     X: cp.ndarray, Y: cp.ndarray, k: int, metric: _Metrics, metric_kwds: Mapping
 ) -> tuple[cp.ndarray, cp.ndarray]:
-    if not CUVS_SWITCH:
+    if not _cuvs_switch():
         from pylibraft.neighbors import ivf_pq
 
         resources = DeviceResources()