diff --git a/paramiko/__init__.py b/paramiko/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6d5e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paramiko/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+
+import sys
+
+if (sys.version_info[0] < 2) or ((sys.version_info[0] == 2) and (sys.version_info[1] < 3)):
+    raise RuntimeError('You need python 2.3 for this module.')
+
+
+__author__ = "Robey Pointer <robey@lag.net>"
+__date__ = "10 Nov 2003"
+__version__ = "0.1-charmander"
+__credits__ = "Huzzah!"
+
+
+from auth_transport import Transport
+from channel import Channel
+from rsakey import RSAKey
+from dsskey import DSSKey
+from util import hexify
+
+__all__ = [ 'Transport', 'Channel', 'RSAKey', 'DSSKey', 'hexify' ]
diff --git a/paramiko/auth_transport.py b/paramiko/auth_transport.py
index 854b358..23f2d02 100644
--- a/paramiko/auth_transport.py
+++ b/paramiko/auth_transport.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from transport import BaseTransport
 from transport import MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST, MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE, \
      MSG_USERAUTH_SUCCESS, MSG_USERAUTH_BANNER
 from message import Message
-from paramiko import SSHException
+from ssh_exception import SSHException
 from logging import DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, CRITICAL
 
 DISCONNECT_SERVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE, DISCONNECT_AUTH_CANCELLED_BY_USER, \
diff --git a/paramiko/channel.py b/paramiko/channel.py
index fa0ff7c..43ddcd1 100644
--- a/paramiko/channel.py
+++ b/paramiko/channel.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from message import Message
-from paramiko import SSHException
+from ssh_exception import SSHException
 from transport import MSG_CHANNEL_REQUEST, MSG_CHANNEL_CLOSE, MSG_CHANNEL_WINDOW_ADJUST, MSG_CHANNEL_DATA, \
 	MSG_CHANNEL_EOF, MSG_CHANNEL_SUCCESS, MSG_CHANNEL_FAILURE
 
diff --git a/paramiko/dsskey.py b/paramiko/dsskey.py
index a5e5c9a..35d8a8d 100644
--- a/paramiko/dsskey.py
+++ b/paramiko/dsskey.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
 
 import base64
-from paramiko import SSHException
+from ssh_exception import SSHException
 from message import Message
 from transport import MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST
 from util import inflate_long, deflate_long
diff --git a/paramiko/kex_gex.py b/paramiko/kex_gex.py
index 19bc699..f1b8058 100644
--- a/paramiko/kex_gex.py
+++ b/paramiko/kex_gex.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from message import Message
 from util import inflate_long, deflate_long, generate_prime, bit_length
-from paramiko import SSHException
+from ssh_exception import SSHException
 from transport import MSG_NEWKEYS
 from Crypto.Hash import SHA
 from Crypto.Util import number
diff --git a/paramiko/kex_group1.py b/paramiko/kex_group1.py
index 00988b2..a29c79d 100644
--- a/paramiko/kex_group1.py
+++ b/paramiko/kex_group1.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # "g" generator.
 
 from message import Message, inflate_long
-from paramiko import SSHException
+from ssh_exception import SSHException
 from transport import MSG_NEWKEYS
 from Crypto.Hash import SHA
 from logging import DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, CRITICAL
diff --git a/paramiko/ssh_exception.py b/paramiko/ssh_exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6e1846
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paramiko/ssh_exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+class SSHException(Exception):
+    pass
+
diff --git a/paramiko/transport.py b/paramiko/transport.py
index a646b58..6bbfa75 100644
--- a/paramiko/transport.py
+++ b/paramiko/transport.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN, MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN_SUCCESS, MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN_FAILURE, \
 import sys, os, string, threading, socket, logging, struct
 from message import Message
 from channel import Channel
-from paramiko import SSHException
 from util import format_binary, safe_string, inflate_long, deflate_long, tb_strings
 from rsakey import RSAKey
 from dsskey import DSSKey
@@ -53,6 +52,7 @@ except:
 randpool.randomize()
 
 
+
 class BaseTransport(threading.Thread):
     '''
     An SSH Transport attaches to a stream (usually a socket), negotiates an