diff --git a/synapse/storage/transactions.py b/synapse/storage/transactions.py
index 6cac8d01ac..0b8a3b7a07 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/transactions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/transactions.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ from ._base import SQLBaseStore, Table, cached
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 
-from twisted.internet import defer
-
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)