diff --git a/mercurial/simplemerge.py b/mercurial/simplemerge.py
--- a/mercurial/simplemerge.py
+++ b/mercurial/simplemerge.py
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ from .i18n import _
 from . import (
     error,
     mdiff,
-    scmutil,
     util,
+    vfs as vfsmod,
 )
 
 class CantReprocessAndShowBase(Exception):
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ def simplemerge(ui, local, base, other, 
 
     local = os.path.realpath(local)
     if not opts.get('print'):
-        opener = scmutil.vfs(os.path.dirname(local))
+        opener = vfsmod.vfs(os.path.dirname(local))
         out = opener(os.path.basename(local), "w", atomictemp=True)
     else:
         out = ui.fout