diff --git a/xbob/learn/activation/version.cpp b/xbob/learn/activation/version.cpp
index 2ed113153ee54b02511bfe063405300bd2efcf2c..82b846b78d88a539299d1b5bb2478c880e5fe6cb 100644
--- a/xbob/learn/activation/version.cpp
+++ b/xbob/learn/activation/version.cpp
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ static PyObject* create_module (void) {
   if (!externals) return 0;
   if (PyModule_AddObject(m, "externals", externals) < 0) return 0;
 
+  /* imports xbob.io C-API + dependencies */
+  if (import_xbob_blitz() < 0) return 0;
+
   Py_INCREF(m);
   return m;