diff --git a/src/epplibwrapper/__init__.py b/src/epplibwrapper/__init__.py
index 29061da21..41cb0448d 100644
--- a/src/epplibwrapper/__init__.py
+++ b/src/epplibwrapper/__init__.py
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ except NameError:
     pass
 
 # Attn: these imports should NOT be at the top of the file
-from .client import CLIENT, commands
+try:
+    from .client import CLIENT, commands
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 __all__ = [
     "CLIENT",
diff --git a/src/mypy.ini b/src/mypy.ini
index a151424a3..e8708cb67 100644
--- a/src/mypy.ini
+++ b/src/mypy.ini
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ strict_optional = True
 # implicit_optional: treat arguments a None default value as implicitly Optional?
 # `var: int = None` is equal to `var: Optional[int] = None`
 implicit_optional = True
+# we'd still like mypy to succeed when 3rd party libraries are not installed
+ignore_missing_imports = True
 
 [mypy.plugins.django-stubs]
 django_settings_module = "registrar.config.settings"