diff --git a/src/karl/services/vcs.py b/src/karl/services/vcs.py
index 50be523..b7ac62f 100644
--- a/src/karl/services/vcs.py
+++ b/src/karl/services/vcs.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-from git import Repo, Remote
+try:
+  from git import Repo, Remote
+except ImportError:
+  import sys
+
+  sys.stderr.write("gitpython is not installed, skipping git service\n")
+  sys.stderr.flush()
+
 from injectable import injectable
 
 from karl.config import GitConfig, get_settings