diff --git a/hgext/__init__.py b/hgext/__init__.py
index fdffa2a0fd..4e7800b098 100644
--- a/hgext/__init__.py
+++ b/hgext/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-# placeholder
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+import pkgutil
+__path__ = pkgutil.extend_path(__path__, __name__)
diff --git a/tests/test-check-py3-compat.t b/tests/test-check-py3-compat.t
index fa34f67300..7a1460641c 100644
--- a/tests/test-check-py3-compat.t
+++ b/tests/test-check-py3-compat.t
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
   doc/check-seclevel.py not using absolute_import
   doc/gendoc.py not using absolute_import
   doc/hgmanpage.py not using absolute_import
-  hgext/__init__.py not using absolute_import
   hgext/color.py not using absolute_import
   hgext/eol.py not using absolute_import
   hgext/extdiff.py not using absolute_import