diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendProtocol.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendProtocol.py
index b74a26235f..503af1d38b 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendProtocol.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendProtocol.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import types
 from encode import *
 import sxp
 
-from xen.xend import XendRoot; xroot = XendRoot.instance()
+from xen.xend import XendRoot
 
 DEBUG = 0
 
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ HTTP_CREATED                         = 201
 HTTP_ACCEPTED                        = 202
 HTTP_NO_CONTENT                      = 204
 
+
+xroot = XendRoot.instance()
+
+
 class XendError(RuntimeError):
     """Error class for 'expected errors' when talking to xend.
     """