diff --git a/kallithea/lib/middleware/permanent_repo_url.py b/kallithea/lib/middleware/permanent_repo_url.py
--- a/kallithea/lib/middleware/permanent_repo_url.py
+++ b/kallithea/lib/middleware/permanent_repo_url.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ middleware to handle permanent repo URLs
 """
 
 
-from kallithea.lib.utils import fix_repo_id_name, safe_str
+from kallithea.lib.utils import fix_repo_id_name
+from kallithea.lib.utils2 import safe_str
 
 
 class PermanentRepoUrl(object):