diff --git a/cafe/plugins/sshv2/cafe/engine/sshv2/client.py b/cafe/plugins/sshv2/cafe/engine/sshv2/client.py
index 41fd42d..36ffbf7 100644
--- a/cafe/plugins/sshv2/cafe/engine/sshv2/client.py
+++ b/cafe/plugins/sshv2/cafe/engine/sshv2/client.py
@@ -18,12 +18,17 @@ import io
 import time
 
 from paramiko import AutoAddPolicy, RSAKey
+from paramiko import py3compat
 from paramiko.client import SSHClient as ParamikoSSHClient
 
 from cafe.engine.sshv2.common import (
     BaseSSHClass, _SSHLogger, DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, POLLING_RATE, CHANNEL_KEEPALIVE)
 from cafe.engine.sshv2.models import ExecResponse
 
+# this is a hack to preimport dependencies imported in a thread during connect
+# which causes a deadlock. https://github.com/paramiko/paramiko/issues/104
+py3compat.u("")
+
 
 class ProxyTypes(object):
     SOCKS5 = 2