diff --git a/python/mxnet/gluon/utils.py b/python/mxnet/gluon/utils.py
index 861542220927..83a5674c45bd 100644
--- a/python/mxnet/gluon/utils.py
+++ b/python/mxnet/gluon/utils.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class requests_failed_to_import(object):
 import numpy as np
 
 from .. import ndarray
+from ..util import is_np_shape
 
 def split_data(data, num_slice, batch_axis=0, even_split=True):
     """Splits an NDArray into `num_slice` slices along `batch_axis`.
@@ -412,3 +413,17 @@ def __enter__(self):
 
     def __exit__(self, ptype, value, trace):
         self.detach()
+
+def shape_is_known(shape):
+    """Check whether a shape is completely known w/ or w/o np semantics."""
+    if shape is None:
+        return False
+    unknown_dim_size = -1 if is_np_shape() else 0
+    if len(shape) == 0:
+        return unknown_dim_size == -1
+    for dim_size in shape:
+        if dim_size == unknown_dim_size:
+            return False
+        assert dim_size > unknown_dim_size, "shape dimension size cannot be less than {}, while " \
+                                            "received {}".format(unknown_dim_size, dim_size)
+    return True
diff --git a/python/mxnet/util.py b/python/mxnet/util.py
index 97442b126d6a..29f5b78e454e 100644
--- a/python/mxnet/util.py
+++ b/python/mxnet/util.py
@@ -245,17 +245,3 @@ def _with_np_shape(*args, **kwargs):
             return func(*args, **kwargs)
 
     return _with_np_shape
-
-def shape_is_known(shape):
-    """Check whether a shape is completely known w/ or w/o np semantics."""
-    if shape is None:
-        return False
-    unknown_dim_size = -1 if is_np_shape() else 0
-    if len(shape) == 0:
-        return unknown_dim_size == -1
-    for dim_size in shape:
-        if dim_size == unknown_dim_size:
-            return False
-        assert dim_size > unknown_dim_size, "shape dimension size cannot be less than {}, while " \
-                                            "received {}".format(unknown_dim_size, dim_size)
-    return True