diff --git a/zproject/dev_urls.py b/zproject/dev_urls.py
index c12a2daee1..27b4a1c3a9 100644
--- a/zproject/dev_urls.py
+++ b/zproject/dev_urls.py
@@ -1,19 +1,21 @@
 from django.conf.urls import url
 from django.conf import settings
 import os.path
+from django.views.static import serve
+import zerver.views
 
 # These URLs are available only in the development environment
 
 use_prod_static = getattr(settings, 'PIPELINE_ENABLED', False)
 static_root = os.path.join(settings.DEPLOY_ROOT, 'prod-static/serve' if use_prod_static else 'static')
 
-urls = [url(r'^static/(?P<path>.*)$', 'django.views.static.serve', {'document_root': static_root})]
-i18n_urls = [url(r'^confirmation_key/$', 'zerver.views.confirmation_key')]
+urls = [url(r'^static/(?P<path>.*)$', serve, {'document_root': static_root})]
+i18n_urls = [url(r'^confirmation_key/$', zerver.views.confirmation_key)]
 
 # These are used for voyager development. On a real voyager instance,
 # these files would be served by nginx.
 if settings.LOCAL_UPLOADS_DIR is not None:
     urls += [
-        url(r'^user_avatars/(?P<path>.*)$', 'django.views.static.serve',
+        url(r'^user_avatars/(?P<path>.*)$', serve,
             {'document_root': os.path.join(settings.LOCAL_UPLOADS_DIR, "avatars")}),
     ]