diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/base.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/base.py
index 148db2f271..acd69cbffd 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/base.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/base.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 """
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from future import standard_library
 standard_library.install_aliases()
 from builtins import object
diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
index 531b745747..9442db1b19 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 """
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from future import standard_library
 standard_library.install_aliases()
 from builtins import range
diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
index b9e4712171..007a694ac2 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 """Utility routines for workflow graphs
 """
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from future import standard_library
 standard_library.install_aliases()
 
@@ -22,6 +24,10 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 from glob import glob
 from collections import defaultdict
+try:
+    from inspect import signature
+except ImportError:
+    from funcsigs import signature
 import os
 import re
 import numpy as np
@@ -115,6 +121,7 @@ def _write_inputs(node):
 
 def format_node(node, format='python', include_config=False):
     """Format a node in a given output syntax."""
+    from .nodes import MapNode
     lines = []
     name = node.fullname.replace('.', '_')
     if format == 'python':
@@ -122,8 +129,9 @@ def format_node(node, format='python', include_config=False):
         importline = 'from %s import %s' % (klass.__module__,
                                             klass.__class__.__name__)
         comment = '# Node: %s' % node.fullname
-        spec = inspect.signature(node._interface.__init__)
-        args = spec.args[1:]
+        spec = signature(node._interface.__init__)
+        args = [p.name for p in spec.parameters.values()]
+        args = args[1:]
         if args:
             filled_args = []
             for arg in args:
diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/workflows.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/workflows.py
index 0fce4f328b..dd73608695 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/workflows.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/workflows.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 """
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 from future import standard_library
 standard_library.install_aliases()
 from builtins import range