diff --git a/tools/flash_writer.py b/tools/flash_writer.py
index 80d13e07b7452..db596187753dd 100755
--- a/tools/flash_writer.py
+++ b/tools/flash_writer.py
@@ -24,7 +24,12 @@
 import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
-import telnetlib
+try:
+    import telnetlib
+except ImportError:
+    telnetlib = None
+    # telnetlib was removed in Python 3.13
+
 import time
 
 import xmodem