diff --git a/mayan/settings/__init__.py b/mayan/settings/__init__.py
index b937aad3fd..c3b6445ab0 100644
--- a/mayan/settings/__init__.py
+++ b/mayan/settings/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
+
 try:
     from .local import *  # NOQA
-except ImportError:
+except ImportError as exception:
+    if force_text(exception) != 'No module named local' and force_text(exception) != 'No module named \'mayan.settings.local\'':
+        raise
     from .base import *  # NOQA