diff --git a/bindings/python/notmuch/messages.py b/bindings/python/notmuch/messages.py
index 97167bd1..76100ffb 100644
--- a/bindings/python/notmuch/messages.py
+++ b/bindings/python/notmuch/messages.py
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ from .errors import (
 from .tag import Tags
 from .message import Message
 
-import sys
-
 class Messages(object):
     """Represents a list of notmuch messages