diff --git a/kwant/builder.py b/kwant/builder.py
index 74153e1b89df60cbedd0cbdd9b070db54af7e973..b3998471832b94d9d616d8e58b3d5a9daea11294 100644
--- a/kwant/builder.py
+++ b/kwant/builder.py
@@ -504,7 +504,8 @@ class ModesLead(Lead):
 
 # A marker, meaning for hopping (i, j): this value is given by the Hermitian
 # conjugate the value of the hopping (j, i).  Used by Builder and System.
-Other = type('Other', (object,), {'__repr__': lambda s: 'Other'})()
+class Other(object):
+    pass
 
 
 def edges(seq):