diff --git a/matrix/api.py b/matrix/api.py
index 4bc5c77..c1a5531 100644
--- a/matrix/api.py
+++ b/matrix/api.py
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ import json
 from enum import Enum, unique
 from functools import partial
 
+try:
+    from json.decoder import JSONDecodeError
+except ImportError:
+    JSONDecodeError = ValueError
+
 try:
     from urllib import quote, urlencode
 except ImportError: