diff --git a/course/utils.py b/course/utils.py
index 8133a79f0fbedc7eee3c485cdc0cf56e501c2df5..baa1b6cb614c9838e2533491fa6f030d75f20fff 100644
--- a/course/utils.py
+++ b/course/utils.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
 THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
-from typing import cast, Text
+from typing import cast
 
 import six
 import datetime  # noqa
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ from course.page.base import (  # noqa
 # {{{ mypy
 
 if False:
-    from typing import Tuple, List, Iterable, Any, Optional, Union, Dict, FrozenSet  # noqa
+    from typing import (  # noqa
+        Tuple, List, Iterable, Any, Optional, Union, Dict, FrozenSet, Text)
     from relate.utils import Repo_ish  # noqa
     from course.models import (  # noqa
             Course,
@@ -532,9 +533,16 @@ def get_session_grading_rule(
         max_points_enforced_cap = getattr_with_fallback(
                 (rule, flow_desc), "max_points_enforced_cap", None)
 
+        try:
+            from typing import Text  # noqa
+        except ImportError:
+            Text = None  # noqa
+
+        grade_aggregation_strategy = cast(Text, grade_aggregation_strategy)  # type: ignore  # noqa
+
         return FlowSessionGradingRule(
                 grade_identifier=grade_identifier,
-                grade_aggregation_strategy=cast(Text, grade_aggregation_strategy),
+                grade_aggregation_strategy=grade_aggregation_strategy,
                 due=due,
                 generates_grade=generates_grade,
                 description=getattr(rule, "description", None),
diff --git a/course/views.py b/course/views.py
index 714028eeef107dbf9cd784f4133af9a698fb1547..788e9182f7ea858170a086bad520a144361e13a4 100644
--- a/course/views.py
+++ b/course/views.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
 THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
-from typing import cast, List, Text
+from typing import cast, List
 
 import datetime
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ from course.utils import (  # noqa
 # {{{ for mypy
 
 if False:
-    from typing import Tuple, Any, Iterable, Dict, Optional  # noqa
+    from typing import Tuple, Text, Any, Iterable, Dict, Optional  # noqa
 
     from course.content import (  # noqa
         FlowDesc,
@@ -1136,7 +1136,11 @@ def grant_exception_stage_3(pctx, participation_id, flow_id, session_id):
 
             tags = []  # type: List[Text]
             if hasattr(flow_desc, "rules"):
-                tags = cast(List[Text], getattr(flow_desc.rules, "tags", []))
+                try:
+                    from typing import Text  # noqa
+                except ImportError:
+                    Text = None  # noqa
+                tags = cast(List[Text], getattr(flow_desc.rules, "tags", []))  # type: ignore  # noqa
 
             # {{{ put together access rule