diff --git a/archivebox/config/__init__.py b/archivebox/config/__init__.py
index 9882045f..3fa5e090 100644
--- a/archivebox/config/__init__.py
+++ b/archivebox/config/__init__.py
@@ -878,8 +878,8 @@ def check_data_folder(out_dir: Optional[str]=None, config: ConfigDict=CONFIG) ->
     output_dir = out_dir or config['OUTPUT_DIR']
     assert isinstance(output_dir, str)
 
-    json_index_exists = os.path.exists(os.path.join(output_dir, JSON_INDEX_FILENAME))
-    if not json_index_exists:
+    sql_index_exists = os.path.exists(os.path.join(output_dir, SQL_INDEX_FILENAME))
+    if not sql_index_exists:
         stderr('[X] No archivebox index found in the current directory.', color='red')
         stderr(f'    {output_dir}', color='lightyellow')
         stderr()
@@ -891,7 +891,6 @@ def check_data_folder(out_dir: Optional[str]=None, config: ConfigDict=CONFIG) ->
         stderr('        archivebox init')
         raise SystemExit(2)
 
-    sql_index_exists = os.path.exists(os.path.join(output_dir, SQL_INDEX_FILENAME))
     from ..index.sql import list_migrations
 
     pending_migrations = [name for status, name in list_migrations() if not status]
diff --git a/archivebox/index/__init__.py b/archivebox/index/__init__.py
index fb5ec6ec..022c83b4 100644
--- a/archivebox/index/__init__.py
+++ b/archivebox/index/__init__.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from collections import OrderedDict
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
-from ..system import atomic_write
 from ..util import (
     scheme,
     enforce_types,
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ from ..config import (
     OUTPUT_DIR,
     TIMEOUT,
     URL_BLACKLIST_PTN,
-    ANSI,
     stderr,
     OUTPUT_PERMISSIONS
 )
@@ -45,7 +43,6 @@ from .html import (
     write_html_link_details,
 )
 from .json import (
-    parse_json_main_index,
     write_json_main_index,
     parse_json_link_details, 
     write_json_link_details,
diff --git a/archivebox/main.py b/archivebox/main.py
index c6c371c5..406fd2e0 100644
--- a/archivebox/main.py
+++ b/archivebox/main.py
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ from .index.json import (
     parse_json_links_details,
 )
 from .index.sql import (
-    parse_sql_main_index,
     get_admins,
     apply_migrations,
     remove_from_sql_main_index,