diff --git a/warcprox/bigtable.py b/warcprox/bigtable.py
index ff2ad0a..043c044 100644
--- a/warcprox/bigtable.py
+++ b/warcprox/bigtable.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import hashlib
 import threading
 import datetime
 import doublethink
-import rethinkdb as r
+from rethinkdb import RethinkDB; r = RethinkDB()
 from warcprox.dedup import DedupableMixin
 
 class RethinkCaptures:
diff --git a/warcprox/stats.py b/warcprox/stats.py
index 3bc560e..e1e2d85 100644
--- a/warcprox/stats.py
+++ b/warcprox/stats.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import doublethink
 import json
 import logging
 import os
-import rethinkdb as r
+from rethinkdb import RethinkDB; r = RethinkDB()
 import sqlite3
 import threading
 import time