diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/_mathtext.py b/lib/matplotlib/_mathtext.py
index 6e4df209b1f9..736d71755f81 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/_mathtext.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/_mathtext.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import abc
-import copy
 import enum
 import functools
 import logging
@@ -1768,7 +1767,7 @@ def __init__(self, fontset: Fonts, font: str, font_class: str, fontsize: float,
         self.dpi = dpi
 
     def copy(self) -> ParserState:
-        return copy.copy(self)
+        return ParserState(self.fontset, self._font, self.font_class, self.fontsize, self.dpi)
 
     @property
     def font(self) -> str: