diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 28b80cc..05aac92 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import socket
 
 import pytest
 
-import cherrypy
+try:
+    import cherrypy
+except ImportError:
+    cherrypy = None
 
 
 class SimpleApp(object):
@@ -108,7 +111,10 @@ class SimpleApp(object):
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def server():
-    return cherrypy.server
+    try:
+        return cherrypy.server
+    except AttributeError:
+        pytest.skip("cherrypy not available")
 
 
 @pytest.fixture()
@@ -126,17 +132,20 @@ def get_free_port():
 
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
-    cherrypy.tree.graft(SimpleApp(), "/")
-
-    ip, port = get_free_port()
+    try:
+        cherrypy.tree.graft(SimpleApp(), "/")
+    except AttributeError:
+        pass
+    else:
+        ip, port = get_free_port()
 
-    cherrypy.config.update({"server.socket_host": ip, "server.socket_port": port})
+        cherrypy.config.update({"server.socket_host": ip, "server.socket_port": port})
 
-    # turn off logging
-    logger = cherrypy.log.access_log
-    logger.removeHandler(logger.handlers[0])
+        # turn off logging
+        logger = cherrypy.log.access_log
+        logger.removeHandler(logger.handlers[0])
 
-    cherrypy.server.start()
+        cherrypy.server.start()
 
 
 def pytest_unconfigure(config):