diff --git a/Lib/tabnanny.py b/Lib/tabnanny.py
index 7973f26f98b..a47f5a96b89 100755
--- a/Lib/tabnanny.py
+++ b/Lib/tabnanny.py
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import tokenize
-if not hasattr(tokenize, 'NL'):
-    raise ValueError("tokenize.NL doesn't exist -- tokenize module too old")
 
 __all__ = ["check", "NannyNag", "process_tokens"]
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-09-29-08-15-55.gh-issue-97639.JSjWYW.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-09-29-08-15-55.gh-issue-97639.JSjWYW.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..65c3105f3bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-09-29-08-15-55.gh-issue-97639.JSjWYW.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Remove ``tokenize.NL`` check from :mod:`tabnanny`.