diff --git a/GPy/util/__init__.py b/GPy/util/__init__.py
index 629b3f48..2d2b6e17 100644
--- a/GPy/util/__init__.py
+++ b/GPy/util/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@ import visualize
 import decorators
 import classification
 import latent_space_visualizations
-import symbolic
+
+try:
+    import sympy
+    _sympy_available = True
+    del sympy
+except ImportError as e:
+    _sympy_available = False
+
+if _sympy_available:
+    import symbolic
 
 import netpbmfile