diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py b/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
index a1e0970..598ea94 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import shlex
 
 # --- python 2 / 3 compatibility stuff
 try:
-    basestring
+    basestring # type: ignore
 except NameError:
     basestring = str
 
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/log.py b/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
index d0fecec..bdce9ee 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from . import misc
 
 # --- python 2 / 3 compatibility stuff
 try:
-    basestring
+    basestring # type: ignore
 except NameError:
     basestring = str