diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 765043a..b32ee05 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import os
 
 # See if there is a `venv` directory next to our script, and use that if
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@
 import logbook
 import json
 import OpenSSL.crypto as crypto
-from future.utils import bytes_to_native_str as n
 from logbook import Logger, StreamHandler
 
 try:
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@
                            matrix_config_server_write_cb, matrix_timer_cb,
                            send_cb, matrix_load_users_cb)
 from matrix.utf import utf8_decode
-from matrix.utils import server_buffer_prnt, server_buffer_set_title
+from matrix.utils import server_buffer_prnt, server_buffer_set_title, bytes_to_native_str as n
 
 from matrix.uploads import UploadsBuffer, upload_cb
 
diff --git a/matrix/bar_items.py b/matrix/bar_items.py
index 23e6fc9..b3b185c 100644
--- a/matrix/bar_items.py
+++ b/matrix/bar_items.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 from . import globals as G
 from .globals import SERVERS, W
 from .utf import utf8_decode
diff --git a/matrix/buffer.py b/matrix/buffer.py
index ce981b1..7e20511 100644
--- a/matrix/buffer.py
+++ b/matrix/buffer.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import time
 import attr
 import pprint
diff --git a/matrix/colors.py b/matrix/colors.py
index c00bc0d..270b811 100644
--- a/matrix/colors.py
+++ b/matrix/colors.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import html
 import re
 import textwrap
diff --git a/matrix/commands.py b/matrix/commands.py
index 598f859..cabff4a 100644
--- a/matrix/commands.py
+++ b/matrix/commands.py
@@ -15,15 +15,14 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import argparse
 import os
 import re
 import shlex
 from builtins import str
-from future.moves.itertools import zip_longest
 from collections import defaultdict
 from functools import partial
+from itertools import zip_longest
 from nio import EncryptionError, LocalProtocolError
 
 from . import globals as G
diff --git a/matrix/completion.py b/matrix/completion.py
index a1ac559..9cea035 100644
--- a/matrix/completion.py
+++ b/matrix/completion.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 from typing import List, Optional
 from matrix.globals import SERVERS, W, SCRIPT_NAME
 from matrix.utf import utf8_decode
diff --git a/matrix/globals.py b/matrix/globals.py
index c3e099e..fde8fe9 100644
--- a/matrix/globals.py
+++ b/matrix/globals.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import sys
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 from logbook import Logger
diff --git a/matrix/message_renderer.py b/matrix/message_renderer.py
index 8a6f544..5a929d0 100644
--- a/matrix/message_renderer.py
+++ b/matrix/message_renderer.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 
 """Module for rendering matrix messages in Weechat."""
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from nio import Api
 from .globals import W
 from .colors import Formatted
diff --git a/matrix/server.py b/matrix/server.py
index 0f34c1e..72075a4 100644
--- a/matrix/server.py
+++ b/matrix/server.py
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import os
 import pprint
 import socket
diff --git a/matrix/uploads.py b/matrix/uploads.py
index 05beb1c..25cff88 100644
--- a/matrix/uploads.py
+++ b/matrix/uploads.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 """Module implementing upload functionality."""
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import attr
 import time
 import json
diff --git a/matrix/utf.py b/matrix/utf.py
index 4d71987..45d63a1 100644
--- a/matrix/utf.py
+++ b/matrix/utf.py
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 # OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
 # WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import sys
 
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
diff --git a/matrix/utils.py b/matrix/utils.py
index ce5f9d1..98db643 100644
--- a/matrix/utils.py
+++ b/matrix/utils.py
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@
 # CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
 # CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals, division
-
+import sys
 import time
 from typing import Any, Dict, List
 
@@ -26,6 +25,11 @@
     from .server import MatrixServer
 
 
+def bytes_to_native_str(b, encoding='utf-8' if sys.version_info[0] >= 3 else None):
+    return b.decode(encoding) if sys.version_info[0] >= 3 else (
+            b.__native__() if hasattr(b, '__native__') else b)
+    
+
 def key_from_value(dictionary, value):
     # type: (Dict[str, Any], Any) -> str
     return list(dictionary.keys())[list(dictionary.values()).index(value)]
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 709adf1..18fb197 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ python = "^3.6"
 pyOpenSSL = "^19.1.0"
 webcolors = "^1.11.1"
 atomicwrites = "^1.3.0"
-future = { version = "^0.18.2", python = "<3.2" }
 attrs = "^19.3.0"
 logbook = "^1.5.3"
 pygments = "^2.6.1"
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index ca7ed5b..1b7d74e 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 pyOpenSSL
 typing ; python_version < "3.5"
 webcolors
-future; python_version < "3.2"
 atomicwrites
 attrs
 logbook
diff --git a/tests/buffer_test.py b/tests/buffer_test.py
index 0ba5697..bbde553 100644
--- a/tests/buffer_test.py
+++ b/tests/buffer_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 from matrix.buffer import WeechatChannelBuffer
 from matrix.utils import parse_redact_args
 
diff --git a/tests/color_test.py b/tests/color_test.py
index 79b5a28..20df212 100644
--- a/tests/color_test.py
+++ b/tests/color_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import webcolors
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from hypothesis import given