diff --git a/tests/lib/venv.py b/tests/lib/venv.py
index 6b63391..126db5b 100644
--- a/tests/lib/venv.py
+++ b/tests/lib/venv.py
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@ import compileall
 import sys
 import textwrap
 
+import pytest
 import six
-import virtualenv as _virtualenv
+try:
+    import virtualenv as _virtualenv
+except ImportError:
+    _virtualenv = None
 
 from .path import Path
 
@@ -20,6 +24,8 @@ class VirtualEnvironment(object):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, location, template=None, venv_type=None):
+        if _virtualenv is None:
+            pytest.skip('virtualenv not available')
         assert template is None or venv_type is None
         assert venv_type in (None, 'virtualenv', 'venv')
         self.location = Path(location)