diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py
index 27a18fefc3d9..d4482c06db66 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ def create_index(conn):
                 # have an event_search_fts_idx; unfortunately postgres 9.4
                 # doesn't support CREATE INDEX IF EXISTS so we just catch the
                 # exception and ignore it.
-                import psycopg2  # type: ignore
+                import psycopg2
 
                 try:
                     c.execute(