diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index 93f2a9df5..4229666d6 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import re
-import sys, os, time
+import sys, os, time, ast
 import optparse
 import platform
 
@@ -479,7 +479,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             except IOError:
                 sys.exit("Error: Seed file not found")
             try:
-                import ast
                 d = ast.literal_eval( data )
                 seed = d['seed']
                 imported_keys = d.get('imported_keys',{})
@@ -632,7 +631,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         wallet.save()
 
     elif cmd == 'signtx':
-        import ast
         filename = args[1]
         f = open(filename, 'r')
         d = ast.literal_eval(f.read())
@@ -704,7 +702,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
         
     elif cmd == 'createmultisig':
-        import ast
         from lib.bitcoin import *
         num = int(args[1])
         pubkeys = ast.literal_eval(args[2])
@@ -715,7 +712,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     
 
     elif cmd == 'createrawtransaction':
-        import ast
         inputs = ast.literal_eval(args[1])
         outputs = ast.literal_eval(args[2])
         # convert to own format
@@ -733,7 +729,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
 
     elif cmd == 'signrawtransaction':
-        import ast
         tx = Transaction(args[1])
         txouts = ast.literal_eval(args[2]) if len(args)>2 else []
         private_keys = ast.literal_eval(args[3]) if len(args)>3 else {}