diff --git a/GPy/util/__init__.py b/GPy/util/__init__.py
index 7d71c83c..398dd252 100644
--- a/GPy/util/__init__.py
+++ b/GPy/util/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ import visualize
 import decorators
 import classification
 import latent_space_visualizations
-import maps
+try:
+    import maps
+except:
+    pass
+    maps = "warning: the maps module requires pyshp (shapefile). Install it to remove this message"
 
 try:
     import sympy