diff --git a/python/gtsam/__init__.py b/python/gtsam/__init__.py
index 70a00c3dc..d00e47b65 100644
--- a/python/gtsam/__init__.py
+++ b/python/gtsam/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
-from . import utils
-from .gtsam import *
-from .utils import findExampleDataFile
+"""Module definition file for GTSAM"""
+
+# pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, global-variable-not-assigned, possibly-unused-variable, import-error, import-self
+
+import sys
+
+from gtsam import gtsam, utils
+from gtsam.gtsam import *
+from gtsam.utils import findExampleDataFile
 
 
 def _init():
@@ -13,7 +19,7 @@ def _init():
     def Point2(x=np.nan, y=np.nan):
         """Shim for the deleted Point2 type."""
         if isinstance(x, np.ndarray):
-            assert x.shape == (2,), "Point2 takes 2-vector"
+            assert x.shape == (2, ), "Point2 takes 2-vector"
             return x  # "copy constructor"
         return np.array([x, y], dtype=float)
 
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@ def _init():
     def Point3(x=np.nan, y=np.nan, z=np.nan):
         """Shim for the deleted Point3 type."""
         if isinstance(x, np.ndarray):
-            assert x.shape == (3,), "Point3 takes 3-vector"
+            assert x.shape == (3, ), "Point3 takes 3-vector"
             return x  # "copy constructor"
         return np.array([x, y, z], dtype=float)