diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 112a8ba60..71d2c6f35 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
     if opts.xattr_set_filesize:
         try:
             import xattr
+            xattr  # Confuse flake8
         except ImportError:
             parser.error('setting filesize xattr requested but python-xattr is not available')