diff --git a/cookiefree/__init__.py b/cookiefree/__init__.py
index aee135b..1a89728 100644
--- a/cookiefree/__init__.py
+++ b/cookiefree/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # The imports in this file are order-sensitive
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from flask import Flask
 from baseframe import baseframe, assets, Version
 import coaster.app
diff --git a/cookiefree/views/index.py b/cookiefree/views/index.py
index 16d756a..c0b04b3 100644
--- a/cookiefree/views/index.py
+++ b/cookiefree/views/index.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def linkasset(asset=[], a=[]):
     try:
         response = redirect(gen_assets_url(assets))
     except AssetNotFound as e:
-        return "404 Not found: %s" % unicode(e), 404
+        return "404 Not found: %s" % str(e), 404
     response.headers['Cache-Control'] = 'public, max-age=600'
     return response