diff --git a/modules/sd_models.py b/modules/sd_models.py
index 2bbb3bf5..75f7ab09 100644
--- a/modules/sd_models.py
+++ b/modules/sd_models.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import sys
 import gc
 from collections import namedtuple
 import torch
-from safetensors.torch import load_file, save_file
 import re
 from omegaconf import OmegaConf
 
@@ -149,6 +148,10 @@ def torch_load(model_filename, model_info, map_override=None):
         # safely load weights
         # TODO: safetensors supports zero copy fast load to gpu, see issue #684.  
         # GPU only for now, see https://github.com/huggingface/safetensors/issues/95
+        try:
+            from safetensors.torch import load_file
+        except ImportError as e:
+            raise ImportError(f"The model is in safetensors format and it is not installed, use `pip install safetensors`: {e}")
         return load_file(model_filename, device='cuda')
     else:
         return torch.load(model_filename, map_location=map_override)
@@ -157,6 +160,10 @@ def torch_save(model, output_filename):
     basename, exttype = os.path.splitext(output_filename)
     if(checkpoint_types[exttype] == 'safetensors'):
         # [=====  >] Reticulating brines...
+        try:
+            from safetensors.torch import save_file
+        except ImportError as e:
+            raise ImportError(f"Export as safetensors selected, yet it is not installed, use `pip install safetensors`: {e}")
         save_file(model, output_filename, metadata={"format": "pt"})
     else:
         torch.save(model, output_filename)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f7de9f70..762db4f3 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -28,4 +28,3 @@ kornia
 lark
 inflection
 GitPython
-safetensors