diff --git a/numba/core/cpu.py b/numba/core/cpu.py
index a54ae7ee339..62eba99638c 100644
--- a/numba/core/cpu.py
+++ b/numba/core/cpu.py
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ def init(self):
         import numba.typed.dictimpl
         import numba.experimental.function_type
 
+        # Add lower_extension attribute
+        self.lower_extensions = {}
+        from numba.parfors.parfor_lowering import _lower_parfor_parallel
+        from numba.parfors.parfor import Parfor
+        # Specify how to lower Parfor nodes using the lower_extensions
+        self.lower_extensions[Parfor] = _lower_parfor_parallel
+
     def load_additional_registries(self):
         # Add target specific implementations
         from numba.np import npyimpl
diff --git a/numba/core/lowering.py b/numba/core/lowering.py
index 44009bde487..57efe28f768 100644
--- a/numba/core/lowering.py
+++ b/numba/core/lowering.py
@@ -267,20 +267,9 @@ def debug_print(self, msg):
             self.context.debug_print(self.builder, "DEBUGJIT: {0}".format(msg))
 
 
-# Dictionary mapping instruction class to its lowering function.
-lower_extensions = {}
-
-
 class Lower(BaseLower):
     GeneratorLower = generators.GeneratorLower
 
-    def __init__(self, context, library, fndesc, func_ir, metadata=None):
-        BaseLower.__init__(self, context, library, fndesc, func_ir, metadata)
-        from numba.parfors.parfor_lowering import _lower_parfor_parallel
-        from numba.parfors import parfor
-        if parfor.Parfor not in lower_extensions:
-            lower_extensions[parfor.Parfor] = [_lower_parfor_parallel]
-
     def pre_block(self, block):
         from numba.core.unsafe import eh
 
@@ -445,10 +434,11 @@ def lower_inst(self, inst):
             self.lower_static_try_raise(inst)
 
         else:
-            for _class, func in lower_extensions.items():
-                if isinstance(inst, _class):
-                    func[-1](self, inst)
-                    return
+            if hasattr(self.context, "lower_extensions"):
+                for _class, func in self.context.lower_extensions.items():
+                    if isinstance(inst, _class):
+                        func(self, inst)
+                        return
             raise NotImplementedError(type(inst))
 
     def lower_setitem(self, target_var, index_var, value_var, signature):
diff --git a/numba/parfors/parfor_lowering.py b/numba/parfors/parfor_lowering.py
index 791b9b79403..765bdb52314 100644
--- a/numba/parfors/parfor_lowering.py
+++ b/numba/parfors/parfor_lowering.py
@@ -479,9 +479,6 @@ def _lower_parfor_parallel(lowerer, parfor):
     if config.DEBUG_ARRAY_OPT:
         print("_lower_parfor_parallel done")
 
-# A work-around to prevent circular imports
-#lowering.lower_extensions[parfor.Parfor] = _lower_parfor_parallel
-
 
 def _create_shape_signature(
         get_shape_classes,