diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b70f3659..43c02af8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Changelog
 
 ### 1.7 (December 22, 2013)
 
+* __1.7.7__ Cleaned up imporrts
 * __1.7.6__ Python 3 port for slugify
 * __1.7.5__ Colorama is only needed on windows. Smaller fixes
 * __1.7.3__ Touches temporary files before opening them to allow more external editors.
diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 0fa9eada..aa34139f 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-try: from . import Entry
-except (SystemError, ValueError): import Entry
-try: from . import util
-except (SystemError, ValueError): import util
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+from . import Entry
+from . import util
 import codecs
 import os
 try: import parsedatetime.parsedatetime_consts as pdt
diff --git a/jrnl/__init__.py b/jrnl/__init__.py
index 1e54f31b..12d92e04 100644
--- a/jrnl/__init__.py
+++ b/jrnl/__init__.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 """
 jrnl is a simple journal application for your command line.
 """
+from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 __title__ = 'jrnl'
-__version__ = '1.7.6'
+__version__ = '1.7.7'
 __author__ = 'Manuel Ebert'
 __license__ = 'MIT License'
 __copyright__ = 'Copyright 2013 - 2014 Manuel Ebert'
diff --git a/jrnl/cli.py b/jrnl/cli.py
index 20e39f9a..d6156822 100644
--- a/jrnl/cli.py
+++ b/jrnl/cli.py
@@ -7,17 +7,12 @@
     license: MIT, see LICENSE for more details.
 """
 
-try:
-    from . import Journal
-    from . import util
-    from . import exporters
-    from . import install
-    from . import __version__
-except (SystemError, ValueError):
-    import Journal
-    import util
-    import exporters
-    import install
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+from . import Journal
+from . import util
+from . import exporters
+from . import install
+from . import __version__
 import jrnl
 import os
 import argparse
diff --git a/jrnl/exporters.py b/jrnl/exporters.py
index 4362dfae..b8463e03 100644
--- a/jrnl/exporters.py
+++ b/jrnl/exporters.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
 import os
-import string
-try: import simplejson as json
-except ImportError: import json
-try: from .util import u, slugify
-except (SystemError, ValueError): from util import u, slugify
+import json
+from .util import u, slugify
 
 
 def get_tags_count(journal):
diff --git a/jrnl/install.py b/jrnl/install.py
index 3240a206..fa78ca0c 100644
--- a/jrnl/install.py
+++ b/jrnl/install.py
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
 import readline
 import glob
 import getpass
-try: import simplejson as json
-except ImportError: import json
+import json
 import os
-try: from . import util
-except (SystemError, ValueError): import util
+from . import util
 
 
 def module_exists(module_name):
diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index ae45cbb9..72d00ca3 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ from tzlocal import get_localzone
 import getpass as gp
 import keyring
 import pytz
-try: import simplejson as json
-except ImportError: import json
+import json
 if "win32" in sys.platform:
     import colorama
     colorama.init()