diff --git a/xarray/core/dask_array_compat.py b/xarray/core/dask_array_compat.py
index 5e6b81a253d..2196dba7f86 100644
--- a/xarray/core/dask_array_compat.py
+++ b/xarray/core/dask_array_compat.py
@@ -44,7 +44,13 @@ def isin(element, test_elements, assume_unique=False, invert=False):
     import math
     from numbers import Integral, Real
 
-    AxisError = np.AxisError
+    try:
+        AxisError = np.AxisError
+    except AttributeError:
+        try:
+            np.array([0]).sum(axis=5)
+        except Exception as e:
+            AxisError = type(e)
 
     def validate_axis(axis, ndim):
         """ Validate an input to axis= keywords """