diff --git a/tools/irc_checks.py b/tools/irc_checks.py
index ba5662dbd2..25c4b709a0 100644
--- a/tools/irc_checks.py
+++ b/tools/irc_checks.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def check_meetbot():
 
     errors = False
 
-    config = yaml.load(open('hiera/common.yaml', 'r'))
+    config = yaml.load(open('hiera/common.yaml', 'r'), Loader=yaml.SafeLoader)
     meetbot_channels = config['meetbot_channels']
     # IRC has a limit of 120 channels that we unfortunately hit with
     # gerritbot. If we try connect to more, it will not connect to