diff --git a/umi_tools/extract.py b/umi_tools/extract.py
index f98aa632..f48d5b27 100644
--- a/umi_tools/extract.py
+++ b/umi_tools/extract.py
@@ -83,7 +83,15 @@
 
 '''
 import sys
-from itertools import izip
+
+# python 3 doesn't require izip
+try:
+    # Python 2
+    from itertools import izip
+except ImportError:
+    # Python 3
+    izip = zip
+
 import umi_tools.Utilities as U