diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index c855b2da3..fff238a31 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -18,5 +18,15 @@ def update(self, val, n=1):
 
 
 class dotdict(dict):
-    def __getattr__(self, name):
-        return self[name]
+    """dot.notation access to dictionary attributes"""
+    __getattr__ = dict.get
+    __setattr__ = dict.__setitem__
+    __delattr__ = dict.__delitem__
+
+    def __getstate__(self):
+        # We are being pickled!
+        return self.__dict__
+
+    def __setstate__(self, state):
+        # Unpickling!
+        self.__dict__ = state