diff --git a/py/code/assertion.py b/py/code/assertion.py
index b5d2314c8..f3c93c3ca 100644
--- a/py/code/assertion.py
+++ b/py/code/assertion.py
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
-try:
-    import __builtin__ as builtins
-except ImportError:
-    import builtins
 import sys
 import py
 
-BuiltinAssertionError = builtins.AssertionError
+BuiltinAssertionError = py.builtin.builtins.AssertionError
 
 
 def _format_explanation(explanation):