diff --git a/swh/docs/sphinx/conf.py b/swh/docs/sphinx/conf.py
--- a/swh/docs/sphinx/conf.py
+++ b/swh/docs/sphinx/conf.py
@@ -122,11 +122,14 @@
 
 # hack to set the adequate django settings when building global swh doc
 # to avoid build errors
-def source_read_handler(app, docname, source):
+def source_read_handler(app, docname, source,
+                        autodoc_mock_imports=autodoc_mock_imports):
     if 'swh-deposit' in docname:
         os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE',
                               'swh.deposit.settings.development')
         django.setup()
+        autodoc_mock_imports += ['swh.deposit.settings']
+
     elif 'swh-web' in docname:
         os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE',
                               'swh.web.settings.development')