diff --git a/synapse/util/jsonobject.py b/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
index 186ff2335b..00f86ed220 100644
--- a/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
+++ b/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import copy
-
 
 class JsonEncodedObject(object):
     """ A common base class for defining protocol units that are represented