diff --git a/Python/future.c b/Python/future.c
index ade647f..03a97c8 100644
--- a/Python/future.c
+++ b/Python/future.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
 future_parse(PyFutureFeatures *ff, mod_ty mod, PyObject *filename)
 {
     int i, done = 0, prev_line = 0;
+    stmt_ty first;
 
     if (!(mod->kind == Module_kind || mod->kind == Interactive_kind))
         return 1;
@@ -78,7 +79,15 @@
        but is preceded by a regular import.
     */
 
-    for (i = 0; i < asdl_seq_LEN(mod->v.Module.body); i++) {
+    i = 0;
+    first = (stmt_ty)asdl_seq_GET(mod->v.Module.body, i);
+    if (first->kind == Expr_kind
+        && (first->v.Expr.value->kind == Str_kind
+            || (first->v.Expr.value->kind == Constant_kind
+                && PyUnicode_CheckExact(first->v.Expr.value->v.Constant.value))))
+        i++;
+
+    for (; i < asdl_seq_LEN(mod->v.Module.body); i++) {
         stmt_ty s = (stmt_ty)asdl_seq_GET(mod->v.Module.body, i);
 
         if (done && s->lineno > prev_line)