diff --git a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/api.py b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/api.py
index e58b3f588..8c443567e 100644
--- a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/api.py
+++ b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/api.py
@@ -75,12 +75,11 @@ def as_cuda_array(obj, sync=True):
     If ``sync`` is ``True``, then the imported stream (if present) will be
     synchronized.
     """
-    if not is_cuda_array(obj):
-        raise TypeError("*obj* doesn't implement the cuda array interface.")
-    else:
-        return from_cuda_array_interface(
-            obj.__cuda_array_interface__, owner=obj, sync=sync
-        )
+    if (
+        interface := getattr(obj, "__cuda_array_interface__", None)
+    ) is not None:
+        return from_cuda_array_interface(interface, owner=obj, sync=sync)
+    raise TypeError("*obj* doesn't implement the cuda array interface.")
 
 
 def is_cuda_array(obj):
diff --git a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/cudadrv/devicearray.py b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/cudadrv/devicearray.py
index e8dc27f3b..6ef4ab6fb 100644
--- a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/cudadrv/devicearray.py
+++ b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/cudadrv/devicearray.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-import numba
 from numba.cuda.cext import _devicearray
 from numba.cuda.cudadrv import devices, dummyarray
 from numba.cuda.cudadrv import driver as _driver
@@ -901,8 +900,12 @@ def auto_device(obj, stream=0, copy=True, user_explicit=False):
     """
     if _driver.is_device_memory(obj):
         return obj, False
-    elif hasattr(obj, "__cuda_array_interface__"):
-        return numba.cuda.as_cuda_array(obj), False
+    elif (
+        interface := getattr(obj, "__cuda_array_interface__", None)
+    ) is not None:
+        from numba.cuda.api import from_cuda_array_interface
+
+        return from_cuda_array_interface(interface, owner=obj), False
     else:
         if isinstance(obj, np.void):
             devobj = from_record_like(obj, stream=stream)