diff --git a/AUTHORS.rst b/AUTHORS.rst
index b4a52014..2b829ce1 100644
--- a/AUTHORS.rst
+++ b/AUTHORS.rst
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ answer newbie questions, and generally made taiga that much better:
 - Joe Letts
 - Julien Palard
 - luyikei <luyikei.qmltu@gmail.com>
+- Motius GmbH <mail@motius.de>
 - Ricky Posner <e@eposner.com>
 - Yamila Moreno <yamila.moreno@kaleidos.net>
 - Yaser Alraddadi <yaser@yr.sa>
diff --git a/taiga/auth/services.py b/taiga/auth/services.py
index 49f9ceaa..5015a02e 100644
--- a/taiga/auth/services.py
+++ b/taiga/auth/services.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ not uses clasess and uses simple functions.
 """
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.db import transaction as tx
 from django.db import IntegrityError
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ def is_user_already_registered(*, username:str, email:str) -> (bool, str):
     and in case he does whats the duplicated attribute
     """
 
-    user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    user_model = get_user_model()
     if user_model.objects.filter(username=username):
         return (True, _("Username is already in use."))
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def public_register(username:str, password:str, email:str, full_name:str):
     if is_registered:
         raise exc.WrongArguments(reason)
 
-    user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    user_model = get_user_model()
     user = user_model(username=username,
                       email=email,
                       full_name=full_name)
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ def private_register_for_new_user(token:str, username:str, email:str,
     if is_registered:
         raise exc.WrongArguments(reason)
 
-    user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    user_model = get_user_model()
     user = user_model(username=username,
                       email=email,
                       full_name=full_name)
diff --git a/taiga/auth/tokens.py b/taiga/auth/tokens.py
index 4d809e38..58fe2938 100644
--- a/taiga/auth/tokens.py
+++ b/taiga/auth/tokens.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from taiga.base import exceptions as exc
 
 from django.apps import apps
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def get_user_for_token(token, scope, max_age=None):
     except signing.BadSignature:
         raise exc.NotAuthenticated(_("Invalid token"))
 
-    model_cls = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    model_cls = get_user_model()
 
     try:
         user = model_cls.objects.get(pk=data["user_%s_id" % (scope)])
diff --git a/taiga/base/management/commands/test_emails.py b/taiga/base/management/commands/test_emails.py
index a3e99688..53a63a87 100644
--- a/taiga/base/management/commands/test_emails.py
+++ b/taiga/base/management/commands/test_emails.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import datetime
 from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from django.utils import timezone
 
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ from taiga.base.mails import mail_builder
 from taiga.projects.models import Project, Membership
 from taiga.projects.history.models import HistoryEntry
 from taiga.projects.history.services import get_history_queryset_by_model_instance
-from taiga.users.models import User
 
 
 class Command(BaseCommand):
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         # Register email
         context = {"lang": locale,
-                    "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+                    "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
                     "cancel_token": "cancel-token"}
 
         email = mail_builder.registered_user(test_email, context)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         # Membership invitation
         membership = Membership.objects.order_by("?").filter(user__isnull=True).first()
-        membership.invited_by = User.objects.all().order_by("?").first()
+        membership.invited_by = get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first()
         membership.invitation_extra_text = "Text example, Text example,\nText example,\n\nText example"
 
         context = {"lang": locale, "membership": membership}
@@ -88,19 +88,19 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         email.send()
 
         # Password recovery
-        context = {"lang": locale, "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first()}
+        context = {"lang": locale, "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first()}
         email = mail_builder.password_recovery(test_email, context)
         email.send()
 
         # Change email
-        context = {"lang": locale, "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first()}
+        context = {"lang": locale, "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first()}
         email = mail_builder.change_email(test_email, context)
         email.send()
 
         # Export/Import emails
         context = {
             "lang": locale,
-            "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "project": Project.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "error_subject": "Error generating project dump",
             "error_message": "Error generating project dump",
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         email.send()
         context = {
             "lang": locale,
-            "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "error_subject": "Error importing project dump",
             "error_message": "Error importing project dump",
         }
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         context = {
             "lang": locale,
             "url": "http://dummyurl.com",
-            "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "project": Project.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "deletion_date": deletion_date,
         }
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         context = {
             "lang": locale,
-            "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "project": Project.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
         }
         email = mail_builder.load_dump(test_email, context)
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         context = {
             "lang": locale,
             "project": Project.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
-            "changer": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "changer": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
             "history_entries": HistoryEntry.objects.all().order_by("?")[0:5],
-            "user": User.objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
+            "user": get_user_model().objects.all().order_by("?").first(),
         }
 
         for notification_email in notification_emails:
diff --git a/taiga/export_import/serializers.py b/taiga/export_import/serializers.py
index 49d574ca..55b2031d 100644
--- a/taiga/export_import/serializers.py
+++ b/taiga/export_import/serializers.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import os
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ class WatcheableObjectModelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         adding_watcher_emails = list(new_watcher_emails.difference(old_watcher_emails))
         removing_watcher_emails = list(old_watcher_emails.difference(new_watcher_emails))
 
-        User = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+        User = get_user_model()
         adding_users = User.objects.filter(email__in=adding_watcher_emails)
         removing_users = User.objects.filter(email__in=removing_watcher_emails)
 
diff --git a/taiga/front/sitemaps/users.py b/taiga/front/sitemaps/users.py
index 675839a0..5e956dd7 100644
--- a/taiga/front/sitemaps/users.py
+++ b/taiga/front/sitemaps/users.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
 from taiga.front.templatetags.functions import resolve
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ from .base import Sitemap
 
 class UsersSitemap(Sitemap):
     def items(self):
-        user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+        user_model = get_user_model()
 
         # Only active users and not system users
         queryset = user_model.objects.filter(is_active=True,
diff --git a/taiga/hooks/bitbucket/services.py b/taiga/hooks/bitbucket/services.py
index a1b12d9b..9b2b8d21 100644
--- a/taiga/hooks/bitbucket/services.py
+++ b/taiga/hooks/bitbucket/services.py
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 
 import uuid
 
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.conf import settings
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
 from taiga.base.utils.urls import get_absolute_url
 
 
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ def get_or_generate_config(project):
 
 
 def get_bitbucket_user(user_id):
-    return User.objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="bitbucket")
+    return get_user_model().objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="bitbucket")
diff --git a/taiga/hooks/github/services.py b/taiga/hooks/github/services.py
index b4114449..830406bf 100644
--- a/taiga/hooks/github/services.py
+++ b/taiga/hooks/github/services.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 
 import uuid
 
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
 from taiga.users.models import AuthData
 from taiga.base.utils.urls import get_absolute_url
 
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ def get_github_user(github_id):
             pass
 
     if user is None:
-        user = User.objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="github")
+        user = get_user_model().objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="github")
 
     return user
diff --git a/taiga/hooks/gitlab/services.py b/taiga/hooks/gitlab/services.py
index 2b2af849..d80fe62c 100644
--- a/taiga/hooks/gitlab/services.py
+++ b/taiga/hooks/gitlab/services.py
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 
 import uuid
 
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.conf import settings
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
 from taiga.base.utils.urls import get_absolute_url
 
 
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ def get_gitlab_user(user_email):
 
     if user_email:
         try:
-            user = User.objects.get(email=user_email)
-        except User.DoesNotExist:
+            user = get_user_model().objects.get(email=user_email)
+        except get_user_model().DoesNotExist:
             pass
 
     if user is None:
-        user = User.objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="gitlab")
+        user = get_user_model().objects.get(is_system=True, username__startswith="gitlab")
 
     return user
diff --git a/taiga/mdrender/extensions/mentions.py b/taiga/mdrender/extensions/mentions.py
index 2dcea03a..683250d2 100644
--- a/taiga/mdrender/extensions/mentions.py
+++ b/taiga/mdrender/extensions/mentions.py
@@ -22,13 +22,12 @@
 # LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
 # THE SOFTWARE.
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
 from markdown.extensions import Extension
 from markdown.inlinepatterns import Pattern
 from markdown.util import etree, AtomicString
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
-
 
 class MentionsExtension(Extension):
     def extendMarkdown(self, md, md_globals):
@@ -43,8 +42,8 @@ class MentionsPattern(Pattern):
         username = m.group(3)
 
         try:
-            user = User.objects.get(username=username)
-        except User.DoesNotExist:
+            user = get_user_model().objects.get(username=username)
+        except get_user_model().DoesNotExist:
             return "@{}".format(username)
 
         url = "/profile/{}".format(username)
diff --git a/taiga/projects/history/freeze_impl.py b/taiga/projects/history/freeze_impl.py
index 07de4bfc..34f4139d 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/history/freeze_impl.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/history/freeze_impl.py
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ from contextlib import suppress
 
 from functools import partial
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 
-from taiga.base.utils.urls import get_absolute_url
 from taiga.base.utils.iterators import as_tuple
 from taiga.base.utils.iterators import as_dict
 from taiga.mdrender.service import render as mdrender
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def _get_generic_values(ids:tuple, *, typename=None, attr:str="name") -> tuple:
 
 @as_dict
 def _get_users_values(ids:set) -> dict:
-    user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    user_model = get_user_model()
     ids = filter(lambda x: x is not None, ids)
     qs = user_model.objects.filter(pk__in=tuple(ids))
 
diff --git a/taiga/projects/history/models.py b/taiga/projects/history/models.py
index 24526235..d440900c 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/history/models.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/history/models.py
@@ -14,12 +14,10 @@
 
 import uuid
 
-from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.db import models
-from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.utils.functional import cached_property
-from django.conf import settings
 from django_pgjson.fields import JsonField
 
 from taiga.mdrender.service import get_diff_of_htmls
@@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ class HistoryEntry(models.Model):
     @cached_property
     def owner(self):
         pk = self.user["pk"]
-        model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+        model = get_user_model()
         try:
             return model.objects.get(pk=pk)
         except model.DoesNotExist:
diff --git a/taiga/projects/issues/api.py b/taiga/projects/issues/api.py
index 0a93250b..c0ade2f4 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/issues/api.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/issues/api.py
@@ -16,25 +16,21 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
-from django.db.models import Q
 from django.http import HttpResponse
 
 from taiga.base import filters
 from taiga.base import exceptions as exc
 from taiga.base import response
-from taiga.base.decorators import detail_route, list_route
+from taiga.base.decorators import list_route
 from taiga.base.api import ModelCrudViewSet, ModelListViewSet
 from taiga.base.api.mixins import BlockedByProjectMixin
 from taiga.base.api.utils import get_object_or_404
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
-
 from taiga.projects.notifications.mixins import WatchedResourceMixin, WatchersViewSetMixin
 from taiga.projects.occ import OCCResourceMixin
 from taiga.projects.history.mixins import HistoryResourceMixin
 
 from taiga.projects.models import Project, IssueStatus, Severity, Priority, IssueType
-from taiga.projects.milestones.models import Milestone
 from taiga.projects.votes.mixins.viewsets import VotedResourceMixin, VotersViewSetMixin
 
 from . import models
diff --git a/taiga/projects/likes/serializers.py b/taiga/projects/likes/serializers.py
index ce321f24..7d28f8f8 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/likes/serializers.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/likes/serializers.py
@@ -16,16 +16,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from taiga.base.api import serializers
-from taiga.base.fields import TagsField
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
-from taiga.users.services import get_photo_or_gravatar_url
+from taiga.base.api import serializers
 
 
 class FanSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     full_name = serializers.CharField(source='get_full_name', required=False)
 
     class Meta:
-        model = User
+        model = get_user_model()
         fields = ('id', 'username', 'full_name')
diff --git a/taiga/projects/notifications/mixins.py b/taiga/projects/notifications/mixins.py
index 2751b2bd..fb3cada7 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/notifications/mixins.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/notifications/mixins.py
@@ -14,15 +14,11 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
 from functools import partial
 from operator import is_not
 
-from django.apps import apps
-from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
-from django.db import models
-from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from taiga.base import response
 from taiga.base.decorators import detail_route
@@ -34,8 +30,6 @@ from taiga.projects.notifications.utils import (attach_watchers_to_queryset,
     attach_is_watcher_to_queryset,
     attach_total_watchers_to_queryset)
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
-from . import models
 from . serializers import WatcherSerializer
 
 
@@ -224,9 +218,9 @@ class EditableWatchedResourceModelSerializer(WatchedResourceModelSerializer):
         adding_watcher_ids = list(new_watcher_ids.difference(old_watcher_ids))
         removing_watcher_ids = list(old_watcher_ids.difference(new_watcher_ids))
 
-        User = apps.get_model("users", "User")
-        adding_users = User.objects.filter(id__in=adding_watcher_ids)
-        removing_users = User.objects.filter(id__in=removing_watcher_ids)
+        User = get_user_model()
+        adding_users = get_user_model().objects.filter(id__in=adding_watcher_ids)
+        removing_users = get_user_model().objects.filter(id__in=removing_watcher_ids)
         for user in adding_users:
             services.add_watcher(obj, user)
 
@@ -273,7 +267,7 @@ class WatchersViewSetMixin:
 
         try:
             self.object = resource.get_watchers().get(pk=pk)
-        except ObjectDoesNotExist: # or User.DoesNotExist
+        except ObjectDoesNotExist:  # or User.DoesNotExist
             return response.NotFound()
 
         serializer = self.get_serializer(self.object)
diff --git a/taiga/projects/notifications/models.py b/taiga/projects/notifications/models.py
index 8eb0db27..9c36fe75 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/notifications/models.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/notifications/models.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class NotifyPolicy(models.Model):
     project user notifications preference.
     """
     project = models.ForeignKey("projects.Project", related_name="notify_policies")
-    user = models.ForeignKey("users.User", related_name="notify_policies")
+    user = models.ForeignKey(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, related_name="notify_policies")
     notify_level = models.SmallIntegerField(choices=NOTIFY_LEVEL_CHOICES)
 
     created_at = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class HistoryChangeNotification(models.Model):
     or updated when an object requires notifications.
     """
     key = models.CharField(max_length=255, unique=False, editable=False)
-    owner = models.ForeignKey("users.User", null=False, blank=False,
+    owner = models.ForeignKey(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, null=False, blank=False,
                               verbose_name=_("owner"), related_name="+")
     created_datetime = models.DateTimeField(null=False, blank=False, auto_now_add=True,
                                             verbose_name=_("created date time"))
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class HistoryChangeNotification(models.Model):
     history_entries = models.ManyToManyField("history.HistoryEntry",
                                              verbose_name=_("history entries"),
                                              related_name="+")
-    notify_users = models.ManyToManyField("users.User",
+    notify_users = models.ManyToManyField(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL,
                                              verbose_name=_("notify users"),
                                              related_name="+")
     project = models.ForeignKey("projects.Project", null=False, blank=False,
diff --git a/taiga/projects/notifications/serializers.py b/taiga/projects/notifications/serializers.py
index 8eab93a0..ed93dce7 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/notifications/serializers.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/notifications/serializers.py
@@ -15,13 +15,10 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import json
-
 from taiga.base.api import serializers
-from taiga.users.models import User
+from taiga.users.models import get_user_model_safe
 
 from . import models
-from . import choices
 
 
 class NotifyPolicySerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
@@ -39,5 +36,5 @@ class WatcherSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     full_name = serializers.CharField(source='get_full_name', required=False)
 
     class Meta:
-        model = User
+        model = get_user_model_safe()
         fields = ('id', 'username', 'full_name')
diff --git a/taiga/projects/notifications/services.py b/taiga/projects/notifications/services.py
index 9730f0c8..0a3cb8e7 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/notifications/services.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/notifications/services.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import datetime
 from functools import partial
 
 from django.apps import apps
-from django.db.transaction import atomic
 from django.db import IntegrityError, transaction
 from django.db.models import Q
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ from taiga.projects.history.services import (make_key_from_model_object,
                                              get_last_snapshot_for_key,
                                              get_model_from_key)
 from taiga.permissions.service import user_has_perm
-from taiga.users.models import User
 
 from .models import HistoryChangeNotification, Watched
 
@@ -214,7 +212,7 @@ def send_notifications(obj, *, history):
         return None
 
     key = make_key_from_model_object(obj)
-    owner = User.objects.get(pk=history.user["pk"])
+    owner = get_user_model().objects.get(pk=history.user["pk"])
     notification, created = (HistoryChangeNotification.objects.select_for_update()
                              .get_or_create(key=key,
                                             owner=owner,
diff --git a/taiga/projects/services/stats.py b/taiga/projects/services/stats.py
index 6e12ff06..0972dc6b 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/services/stats.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/services/stats.py
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ import datetime
 import copy
 import collections
 
-from taiga.projects.history.models import HistoryEntry
-from taiga.projects.userstories.models import RolePoints
 
 def _count_status_object(status_obj, counting_storage):
     if status_obj.id in counting_storage:
@@ -228,6 +226,7 @@ def _get_milestones_stats_for_backlog(project, milestones):
 def get_stats_for_project(project):
     # Let's fetch all the estimations related to a project with all the necesary
     # related data
+    RolePoints = apps.get_model('userstories', 'RolePoints')
     role_points = RolePoints.objects.filter(
         user_story__project = project,
     ).prefetch_related(
@@ -378,6 +377,7 @@ def _get_wiki_changes_per_member_stats(project):
     # Wiki changes
     wiki_changes = {}
     wiki_page_keys = ["wiki.wikipage:%s"%id for id in project.wiki_pages.values_list("id", flat=True)]
+    HistoryEntry = apps.get_model('history', 'HistoryEntry')
     history_entries = HistoryEntry.objects.filter(key__in=wiki_page_keys).values('user')
     for entry in history_entries:
         editions = wiki_changes.get(entry["user"]["pk"], 0)
diff --git a/taiga/projects/votes/serializers.py b/taiga/projects/votes/serializers.py
index af9ffdfa..78fc94c4 100644
--- a/taiga/projects/votes/serializers.py
+++ b/taiga/projects/votes/serializers.py
@@ -16,16 +16,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from taiga.base.api import serializers
-from taiga.base.fields import TagsField
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
-from taiga.users.models import User
-from taiga.users.services import get_photo_or_gravatar_url
+from taiga.base.api import serializers
 
 
 class VoterSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     full_name = serializers.CharField(source='get_full_name', required=False)
 
     class Meta:
-        model = User
+        model = get_user_model()
         fields = ('id', 'username', 'full_name')
diff --git a/taiga/stats/services.py b/taiga/stats/services.py
index 26934be3..45ae60e5 100644
--- a/taiga/stats/services.py
+++ b/taiga/stats/services.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.db.models import Count
 from django.db.models import Q
 from django.utils import timezone
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from collections import OrderedDict
 ###########################################################################
 
 def get_users_public_stats():
-    model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    model = get_user_model()
     queryset = model.objects.filter(is_active=True, is_system=False)
     stats = OrderedDict()
 
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/api.py b/taiga/timeline/api.py
index e68ba949..82dea784 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/api.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/api.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.apps import apps
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ class TimelineViewSet(ReadOnlyListViewSet):
         page = self.paginate_queryset(queryset)
         if page is not None:
             user_ids = list(set([obj.data.get("user", {}).get("id", None) for obj in page.object_list]))
-            User = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+            User = get_user_model()
             users = {u.id: u for u in User.objects.filter(id__in=user_ids)}
 
             for obj in page.object_list:
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ class TimelineViewSet(ReadOnlyListViewSet):
 
 
 class ProfileTimeline(TimelineViewSet):
-    content_type = "users.user"
+    content_type = settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL.lower()
     permission_classes = (permissions.UserTimelinePermission,)
 
     def get_timeline(self, user):
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ class ProfileTimeline(TimelineViewSet):
 
 
 class UserTimeline(TimelineViewSet):
-    content_type = "users.user"
+    content_type = settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL.lower()
     permission_classes = (permissions.UserTimelinePermission,)
 
     def get_timeline(self, user):
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/apps.py b/taiga/timeline/apps.py
index 3cdfbc8c..c9df776d 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/apps.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/apps.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.apps import AppConfig
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.db.models import signals
 
 
@@ -35,4 +36,4 @@ class TimelineAppConfig(AppConfig):
         signals.post_delete.connect(handlers.delete_membership_push_to_timeline,
                                                 sender=apps.get_model("projects", "Membership"))
         signals.post_save.connect(handlers.create_user_push_to_timeline,
-                                                 sender=apps.get_model("users", "User"))
+                                                 sender=get_user_model())
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/management/commands/_rebuild_timeline_for_user_creation.py b/taiga/timeline/management/commands/_rebuild_timeline_for_user_creation.py
index fdf8ef49..726664f9 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/management/commands/_rebuild_timeline_for_user_creation.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/management/commands/_rebuild_timeline_for_user_creation.py
@@ -18,24 +18,22 @@
 # Examples:
 # python manage.py rebuild_timeline_for_user_creation --settings=settings.local_timeline
 
-from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
-from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from django.db.models import Model
-from django.db import reset_queries
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 
 from taiga.timeline.service import (_get_impl_key_from_model,
     _timeline_impl_map, extract_user_info)
 from taiga.timeline.models import Timeline
 from taiga.timeline.signals import _push_to_timelines
-from taiga.users.models import User
 
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import gc
 
+
 class BulkCreator(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self.timeline_objects = []
@@ -75,7 +73,7 @@ def custom_add_to_object_timeline(obj:object, instance:object, event_type:str, c
 def generate_timeline():
     with patch('taiga.timeline.service._add_to_object_timeline', new=custom_add_to_object_timeline):
         # Users api wasn't a HistoryResourceMixin so we can't interate on the HistoryEntries in this case
-        users = User.objects.order_by("date_joined")
+        users = get_user_model().objects.order_by("date_joined")
         for user in users.iterator():
             print("User:", user.date_joined)
             extra_data = {
@@ -87,6 +85,7 @@ def generate_timeline():
 
     bulk_creator.flush()
 
+
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = 'Regenerate project timeline'
 
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/management/commands/rebuild_timeline.py b/taiga/timeline/management/commands/rebuild_timeline.py
index 5bf7d340..6214d129 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/management/commands/rebuild_timeline.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/management/commands/rebuild_timeline.py
@@ -20,24 +20,17 @@
 # python manage.py rebuild_timeline --settings=settings.local_timeline --purge
 # python manage.py rebuild_timeline --settings=settings.local_timeline --initial_date 2014-10-02
 
-from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from django.db.models import Model
-from django.db import reset_queries
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 
-
 from taiga.projects.models import Project
-from taiga.projects.history import services as history_services
-from taiga.projects.history.choices import HistoryType
 from taiga.projects.history.models import HistoryEntry
 from taiga.timeline.models import Timeline
-from taiga.timeline.service import (_add_to_object_timeline, _get_impl_key_from_model,
-    _timeline_impl_map, extract_user_info)
+from taiga.timeline.service import _get_impl_key_from_model,_timeline_impl_map, extract_user_info
 from taiga.timeline.signals import on_new_history_entry, _push_to_timelines
-from taiga.users.models import User
 
 from unittest.mock import patch
 from optparse import make_option
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/serializers.py b/taiga/timeline/serializers.py
index 882f62bc..d4a1563c 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/serializers.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/serializers.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.forms import widgets
 
 from taiga.base.api import serializers
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ class TimelineSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         if hasattr(obj, "_prefetched_user"):
             user = obj._prefetched_user
         else:
-            User = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+            User = get_user_model()
             userData = obj.data.get("user", None)
             try:
                 user = User.objects.get(id=userData["id"])
diff --git a/taiga/timeline/signals.py b/taiga/timeline/signals.py
index f307fa4a..887688fc 100644
--- a/taiga/timeline/signals.py
+++ b/taiga/timeline/signals.py
@@ -16,14 +16,12 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
 from taiga.projects.history import services as history_services
-from taiga.projects.models import Project
-from taiga.users.models import User
 from taiga.projects.history.choices import HistoryType
-from taiga.projects.notifications import services as notifications_services
 from taiga.timeline.service import (push_to_timeline,
                                     build_user_namespace,
                                     build_project_namespace,
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ def on_new_history_entry(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
     elif instance.type == HistoryType.delete:
         event_type = "delete"
 
-    user = User.objects.get(id=instance.user["pk"])
+    user = get_user_model().objects.get(id=instance.user["pk"])
     values_diff = instance.values_diff
     _clean_description_fields(values_diff)
 
diff --git a/taiga/users/models.py b/taiga/users/models.py
index 054167cc..bff7a025 100644
--- a/taiga/users/models.py
+++ b/taiga/users/models.py
@@ -15,19 +15,22 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+from importlib import import_module
+
 import random
 import re
-import uuid
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.apps.config import MODELS_MODULE_NAME
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth.models import UserManager, AbstractBaseUser
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
+from django.core import validators
+from django.core.exceptions import AppRegistryNotReady
 from django.db import models
 from django.dispatch import receiver
-from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
-from django.contrib.auth.models import UserManager, AbstractBaseUser
-from django.core import validators
 from django.utils import timezone
+from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from django_pgjson.fields import JsonField
 from djorm_pgarray.fields import TextArrayField
@@ -39,7 +42,42 @@ from taiga.permissions.permissions import MEMBERS_PERMISSIONS
 from taiga.projects.choices import BLOCKED_BY_OWNER_LEAVING
 from taiga.projects.notifications.choices import NotifyLevel
 
-from easy_thumbnails.files import get_thumbnailer
+
+def get_user_model_safe():
+    """
+    Fetches the user model using the app registry.
+    This doesn't require that an app with the given app label exists,
+    which makes it safe to call when the registry is being populated.
+    All other methods to access models might raise an exception about the
+    registry not being ready yet.
+    Raises LookupError if model isn't found.
+
+    Based on:               https://github.com/django-oscar/django-oscar/blob/1.0/oscar/core/loading.py#L310-L340
+    Ongoing Django issue:   https://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/22872
+    """
+    user_app, user_model = settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL.split('.')
+
+    try:
+        return apps.get_model(user_app, user_model)
+    except AppRegistryNotReady:
+        if apps.apps_ready and not apps.models_ready:
+            # If this function is called while `apps.populate()` is
+            # loading models, ensure that the module that defines the
+            # target model has been imported and try looking the model up
+            # in the app registry. This effectively emulates
+            # `from path.to.app.models import Model` where we use
+            # `Model = get_model('app', 'Model')` instead.
+            app_config = apps.get_app_config(user_app)
+            # `app_config.import_models()` cannot be used here because it
+            # would interfere with `apps.populate()`.
+            import_module('%s.%s' % (app_config.name, MODELS_MODULE_NAME))
+            # In order to account for case-insensitivity of model_name,
+            # look up the model through a private API of the app registry.
+            return apps.get_registered_model(user_app, user_model)
+        else:
+            # This must be a different case (e.g. the model really doesn't
+            # exist). We just re-raise the exception.
+            raise
 
 
 def generate_random_hex_color():
@@ -281,7 +319,7 @@ class Role(models.Model):
 
 
 class AuthData(models.Model):
-    user = models.ForeignKey("users.User", related_name="auth_data")
+    user = models.ForeignKey(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, related_name="auth_data")
     key = models.SlugField(max_length=50)
     value = models.CharField(max_length=300)
     extra = JsonField()
diff --git a/taiga/users/services.py b/taiga/users/services.py
index e13355ad..c55b4cdb 100644
--- a/taiga/users/services.py
+++ b/taiga/users/services.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ This model contains a domain logic for users application.
 """
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.db.models import Q
 from django.db import connection
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ from .gravatar import get_gravatar_url
 
 
 def get_user_by_username_or_email(username_or_email):
-    user_model = apps.get_model("users", "User")
+    user_model = get_user_model()
     qs = user_model.objects.filter(Q(username__iexact=username_or_email) |
                                    Q(email__iexact=username_or_email))
 
diff --git a/taiga/webhooks/apps.py b/taiga/webhooks/apps.py
index 90890262..a10cd1d2 100644
--- a/taiga/webhooks/apps.py
+++ b/taiga/webhooks/apps.py
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ def connect_webhooks_signals():
                               dispatch_uid="webhooks")
 
 
+
+
 def disconnect_webhooks_signals():
-    signals.post_save.disconnect(sender=HistoryEntry, dispatch_uid="webhooks")
+    signals.post_save.disconnect(sender=apps.get_model("history", "HistoryEntry"), dispatch_uid="webhooks")
 
 
 class WebhooksAppConfig(AppConfig):
diff --git a/tests/factories.py b/tests/factories.py
index 71de1044..252ce47a 100644
--- a/tests/factories.py
+++ b/tests/factories.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class WikiAttachmentFactory(Factory):
 
 class UserFactory(Factory):
     class Meta:
-        model = "users.User"
+        model = settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL
         strategy = factory.CREATE_STRATEGY
 
     username = factory.Sequence(lambda n: "user{}".format(n))
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_importer_api.py b/tests/integration/test_importer_api.py
index 9d4e8d0b..2d392fbd 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_importer_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_importer_api.py
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ def test_valid_project_with_enough_public_projects_slots(client):
     client.login(user)
     response = client.json.post(url, json.dumps(data))
 
-    print(response.content)
     assert response.status_code == 201
     assert Project.objects.filter(slug="public-project-with-slots").count() == 1
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_watch_tasks.py b/tests/integration/test_watch_tasks.py
index 8c716560..38ddd40b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_watch_tasks.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_watch_tasks.py
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ def test_get_task_is_watcher(client):
     assert response.data['is_watcher'] == False
 
     response = client.post(url_watch)
-    print(response.data)
     assert response.status_code == 200
 
     response = client.get(url_detail)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_slug.py b/tests/unit/test_slug.py
index 0bebf51f..9cb4ef5f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_slug.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_slug.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from taiga.projects.models import Project
-from taiga.users.models import User
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
+from taiga.projects.models import Project
 from taiga.base.utils.slug import slugify
 
 import pytest
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def test_slugify_3():
 
 
 def test_project_slug_with_special_chars():
-    user = User.objects.create(username="test")
+    user = get_user_model().objects.create(username="test")
     project = Project.objects.create(name="漢字", description="漢字", owner=user)
     project.save()
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def test_project_slug_with_special_chars():
 
 
 def test_project_with_existing_name_slug_with_special_chars():
-    user = User.objects.create(username="test")
+    user = get_user_model().objects.create(username="test")
     Project.objects.create(name="漢字", description="漢字", owner=user)
     project = Project.objects.create(name="漢字", description="漢字", owner=user)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_timeline.py b/tests/unit/test_timeline.py
index afebbc09..e34906d6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_timeline.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_timeline.py
@@ -18,19 +18,18 @@
 
 from unittest.mock import patch, call
 
-from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
 from taiga.timeline import service
 from taiga.timeline.models import Timeline
 from taiga.projects.models import Project
-from taiga.users.models import User
 
 import pytest
 
 
 def test_push_to_timeline_many_objects():
     with patch("taiga.timeline.service._add_to_object_timeline") as mock:
-        users = [User(), User(), User()]
+        users = [get_user_model(), get_user_model(), get_user_model()]
         project = Project()
         service.push_to_timeline(users, project, "test", project.created_date)
         assert mock.call_count == 3
@@ -45,7 +44,7 @@ def test_push_to_timeline_many_objects():
 
 def test_add_to_objects_timeline():
     with patch("taiga.timeline.service._add_to_object_timeline") as mock:
-        users = [User(), User(), User()]
+        users = [get_user_model(), get_user_model(), get_user_model()]
         project = Project()
         service._add_to_objects_timeline(users, project, "test", project.created_date)
         assert mock.call_count == 3