diff --git a/python/CMakeLists.txt b/python/CMakeLists.txt
index c3524adad8..2b3ed38523 100644
--- a/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ set(interface_headers
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/gtsam/basis/basis.i
 )
 
+set(GTSAM_PYTHON_TARGET gtsam_py)
+set(GTSAM_PYTHON_UNSTABLE_TARGET gtsam_unstable_py)
 
-pybind_wrap(gtsam_py # target
+pybind_wrap(${GTSAM_PYTHON_TARGET} # target
             "${interface_headers}" # interface_headers
             "gtsam.cpp" # generated_cpp
             "gtsam" # module_name
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ pybind_wrap(gtsam_py # target
             ON # use_boost
             )
 
-set_target_properties(gtsam_py PROPERTIES
+set_target_properties(${GTSAM_PYTHON_TARGET} PROPERTIES
     INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib"
     INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE
     OUTPUT_NAME "gtsam"
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ create_symlinks("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gtsam"
 file(COPY "${GTSAM_SOURCE_DIR}/examples/Data" DESTINATION "${GTSAM_MODULE_PATH}")
 
 # Add gtsam as a dependency to the install target
-set(GTSAM_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES gtsam_py)
+set(GTSAM_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES ${GTSAM_PYTHON_TARGET})
 
 
 if(GTSAM_UNSTABLE_BUILD_PYTHON)
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ if(GTSAM_UNSTABLE_BUILD_PYTHON)
             gtsam::CameraSetCal3Fisheye
             gtsam::KeyPairDoubleMap)
             
-    pybind_wrap(gtsam_unstable_py # target
+    pybind_wrap(${GTSAM_PYTHON_UNSTABLE_TARGET} # target
             ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/gtsam_unstable/gtsam_unstable.i # interface_header
             "gtsam_unstable.cpp" # generated_cpp
             "gtsam_unstable" # module_name
@@ -134,7 +136,7 @@ if(GTSAM_UNSTABLE_BUILD_PYTHON)
             ON # use_boost
             )
 
-    set_target_properties(gtsam_unstable_py PROPERTIES
+    set_target_properties(${GTSAM_PYTHON_UNSTABLE_TARGET} PROPERTIES
             INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib"
             INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE
             OUTPUT_NAME "gtsam_unstable"
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ if(GTSAM_UNSTABLE_BUILD_PYTHON)
             "${GTSAM_UNSTABLE_MODULE_PATH}")
 
     # Add gtsam_unstable to the install target
-    list(APPEND GTSAM_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES gtsam_unstable_py)
+    list(APPEND GTSAM_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES ${GTSAM_PYTHON_UNSTABLE_TARGET})
 
 endif()
 
diff --git a/python/gtsam/__init__.py b/python/gtsam/__init__.py
index 70a00c3dcd..d00e47b653 100644
--- a/python/gtsam/__init__.py
+++ b/python/gtsam/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
-from . import utils
-from .gtsam import *
-from .utils import findExampleDataFile
+"""Module definition file for GTSAM"""
+
+# pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, global-variable-not-assigned, possibly-unused-variable, import-error, import-self
+
+import sys
+
+from gtsam import gtsam, utils
+from gtsam.gtsam import *
+from gtsam.utils import findExampleDataFile
 
 
 def _init():
@@ -13,7 +19,7 @@ def _init():
     def Point2(x=np.nan, y=np.nan):
         """Shim for the deleted Point2 type."""
         if isinstance(x, np.ndarray):
-            assert x.shape == (2,), "Point2 takes 2-vector"
+            assert x.shape == (2, ), "Point2 takes 2-vector"
             return x  # "copy constructor"
         return np.array([x, y], dtype=float)
 
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@ def Point2(x=np.nan, y=np.nan):
     def Point3(x=np.nan, y=np.nan, z=np.nan):
         """Shim for the deleted Point3 type."""
         if isinstance(x, np.ndarray):
-            assert x.shape == (3,), "Point3 takes 3-vector"
+            assert x.shape == (3, ), "Point3 takes 3-vector"
             return x  # "copy constructor"
         return np.array([x, y, z], dtype=float)