diff --git a/vcr/persist.py b/vcr/persist.py
index 4ae8ec3..b16e343 100644
--- a/vcr/persist.py
+++ b/vcr/persist.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import tempfile
 
 from .persisters.filesystem import FilesystemPersister
-from . import migration
-from . import serialize
+from .serialize import serialize, deserialize
 
 
 def _check_for_old_cassette(cassette_content):
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ def load_cassette(cassette_path, serializer):
     with open(cassette_path) as f:
         cassette_content = f.read()
         try:
-            cassette = serialize.deserialize(cassette_content, serializer)
+            cassette = deserialize(cassette_content, serializer)
         except TypeError:
             _check_for_old_cassette(cassette_content)
             raise
@@ -30,5 +29,5 @@ def load_cassette(cassette_path, serializer):
 
 
 def save_cassette(cassette_path, cassette_dict, serializer):
-    data = serialize.serialize(cassette_dict, serializer)
+    data = serialize(cassette_dict, serializer)
     FilesystemPersister.write(cassette_path, data)
diff --git a/vcr/serialize.py b/vcr/serialize.py
index 6bdfa56..49efa2a 100644
--- a/vcr/serialize.py
+++ b/vcr/serialize.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from serializers import compat
+from vcr.serializers import compat
 from vcr.request import Request
 
 """