diff --git a/pylib/anki/lang.py b/pylib/anki/lang.py
index b65546be2..d59730fc9 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/lang.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/lang.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import anki._backend.fluent_pb2 as _fluent_pb
 # public exports
 TR = _fluent_pb.FluentString
 FormatTimeSpan = _pb.FormatTimespanIn
-# legacy alias used by add-ons
-FormatTimeSpanContext = FormatTimeSpan
 
 langs = sorted(
     [
diff --git a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
index d67ebad0f..fcec17d02 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
@@ -9,4 +9,6 @@
 
 from anki.decks import DeckTreeNode
 from anki.errors import InvalidInput, NotFoundError
-from anki.lang import FormatTimeSpan
+from anki.lang import TR
+from anki.lang import FormatTimeSpan as FormatTimeSpanContext
+from anki.utils import from_json_bytes, to_json_bytes
diff --git a/qt/aqt/pinnedmodules.py b/qt/aqt/pinnedmodules.py
index e18ebf0fd..a8cbaafe6 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/pinnedmodules.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/pinnedmodules.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import pyaudio
 # legacy compat
 import anki.storage
 import anki.sync
+import anki.rsbackend
 
 # platform-specifics
 from anki.utils import isLin, isMac, isWin