diff --git a/dbtemplates/conf.py b/dbtemplates/conf.py
index 2a420a3..4abb258 100644
--- a/dbtemplates/conf.py
+++ b/dbtemplates/conf.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import posixpath
 
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils.six import string_types
 
 from appconf import AppConf
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ class DbTemplatesConf(AppConf):
                 return "dbtemplates"
             else:
                 return "default"
-        if isinstance(value, basestring) and value.startswith("dbtemplates."):
+        if isinstance(value, string_types) and value.startswith("dbtemplates."):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured("Please upgrade to one of the "
                                        "supported backends as defined "
                                        "in the Django docs.")
diff --git a/dbtemplates/management/commands/sync_templates.py b/dbtemplates/management/commands/sync_templates.py
index a25b4b0..3529e82 100644
--- a/dbtemplates/management/commands/sync_templates.py
+++ b/dbtemplates/management/commands/sync_templates.py
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ from optparse import make_option
 from django import VERSION
 from django.contrib.sites.models import Site
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError, NoArgsCommand
+try:
+    from django.utils.six import input as raw_input
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from dbtemplates.conf import settings
 from dbtemplates.models import Template
diff --git a/dbtemplates/utils/template.py b/dbtemplates/utils/template.py
index 526fcb7..c7b224a 100644
--- a/dbtemplates/utils/template.py
+++ b/dbtemplates/utils/template.py
@@ -60,6 +60,6 @@ def get_template_source(name):
 def check_template_syntax(template):
     try:
         Template(template.content)
-    except TemplateSyntaxError, e:
+    except TemplateSyntaxError as e:
         return (False, e)
     return (True, None)