diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index c478f812e..f09d5d581 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 # Imports required for the default HomeServer() implementation
 from synapse.federation import initialize_http_replication
-from synapse.events.utils import serialize_event
 from synapse.notifier import Notifier
 from synapse.api.auth import Auth
 from synapse.handlers import Handlers