diff --git a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
index 2bfeefd54e..836c3aae17 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
@@ -12,12 +12,16 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-import sqlite3
 import struct
 import threading
 
+from pip._internal.utils.typing import MYPY_CHECK_RUNNING
+
 from synapse.storage.engines import BaseDatabaseEngine
 
+if MYPY_CHECK_RUNNING:
+    import sqlite3
+
 
 class Sqlite3Engine(BaseDatabaseEngine[sqlite3.Connection]):
     def __init__(self, database_module, database_config):