diff --git a/matrix/api.py b/matrix/api.py
index 3a01afc..5940cfa 100644
--- a/matrix/api.py
+++ b/matrix/api.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 import time
 import json
diff --git a/matrix/bar_items.py b/matrix/bar_items.py
index 8ae72d4..48d1c00 100644
--- a/matrix/bar_items.py
+++ b/matrix/bar_items.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 from matrix.utf import utf8_decode
 from matrix.utils import key_from_value
diff --git a/matrix/commands.py b/matrix/commands.py
index ee2090c..a94c825 100644
--- a/matrix/commands.py
+++ b/matrix/commands.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 import re
 import time
diff --git a/matrix/http.py b/matrix/http.py
index 6b558b8..a14b51e 100644
--- a/matrix/http.py
+++ b/matrix/http.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 import json
 from enum import Enum, unique
diff --git a/matrix/messages.py b/matrix/messages.py
index 76001f7..a6d4257 100644
--- a/matrix/messages.py
+++ b/matrix/messages.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 import time
 import json
diff --git a/matrix/server.py b/matrix/server.py
index 4bf97d6..bdf49ff 100644
--- a/matrix/server.py
+++ b/matrix/server.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from builtins import str
 
 import ssl