diff --git a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
index 836c3aae17..12ef92801c 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/engines/sqlite.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 # 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.
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 import struct
 import threading