diff --git a/python/podio/root_io.py b/python/podio/root_io.py
index d2cd8a23e..95702f086 100644
--- a/python/podio/root_io.py
+++ b/python/podio/root_io.py
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@
 
 from ROOT import gSystem
 
-from utils import convert_to_str_paths
-
 gSystem.Load("libpodioRootIO")  # noqa: E402
 from ROOT import podio  # noqa: E402 # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 
 from podio.base_reader import BaseReaderMixin  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position # noqa: E402
 from podio.base_writer import BaseWriterMixin  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position # noqa: E402
+from podio.utils import convert_to_str_paths  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position # noqa: E402
 
 
 class Reader(BaseReaderMixin):
diff --git a/python/podio/sio_io.py b/python/podio/sio_io.py
index 848729d79..9926b33ff 100644
--- a/python/podio/sio_io.py
+++ b/python/podio/sio_io.py
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 
 from ROOT import gSystem
 
-from utils import convert_to_str_paths
-
 if gSystem.DynamicPathName("libpodioSioIO.so", True):
     gSystem.Load("libpodioSioIO")  # noqa: 402
 else:
@@ -13,6 +11,7 @@
 
 from podio.base_reader import BaseReaderMixin  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 from podio.base_writer import BaseWriterMixin  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+from podio.utils import convert_to_str_paths  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position # noqa: E402
 
 
 class Reader(BaseReaderMixin):