diff --git a/tests/unit/test_fake_gp_backend.py b/tests/unit/test_fake_gp_backend.py
index c606011..36a8eeb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_fake_gp_backend.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_fake_gp_backend.py
@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@
 the exact production default (get_backend("gpflow")), so these are additive, zero-risk
 changes to the constructors.
 """
+import pytest
 import numpy as np
 
 from emcal.emulators import GPEmulator, build_gp_emulator
 from emcal.enums import Kernel
-from emcal.gp_backend.gpflow_backend import GpflowBackend
 
 from _fakes import FakeGPBackend
 
+gpflow = pytest.importorskip("gpflow", reason="gpflow not installed")
+
+from emcal.gp_backend.gpflow_backend import GpflowBackend
+
 
 def test_fake_backend_implements_full_abc_interface():
     backend = FakeGPBackend()