diff --git a/doc/docchecker b/doc/docchecker
--- a/doc/docchecker
+++ b/doc/docchecker
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@
 #
 # This software may be used and distributed according to the terms of the
 # GNU General Public License version 2 or any later version.
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import re
 import sys
-import re
 
 leadingline = re.compile(r'(^\s*)(\S.*)$')