diff --git a/apptools/__init__.py b/apptools/__init__.py
index 1a28f9000..b46ba3140 100644
--- a/apptools/__init__.py
+++ b/apptools/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,5 @@
     __version__ = 'not-built'
 
 __requires__ = [
-    'traitsui',
     'configobj',
 ]
diff --git a/apptools/naming/trait_defs/naming_traits.py b/apptools/naming/trait_defs/naming_traits.py
index 48bd01f0f..7eca7dbef 100644
--- a/apptools/naming/trait_defs/naming_traits.py
+++ b/apptools/naming/trait_defs/naming_traits.py
@@ -22,8 +22,11 @@
 from traits.trait_base \
     import class_of, get_module_name
 
-from traitsui.api \
-    import DropEditor
+try:
+    from traitsui.api \
+        import DropEditor
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from apptools.naming.api \
     import Binding
@@ -101,11 +104,15 @@ def validate_failed ( self, object, name, value ):
 
     def get_editor ( self, trait ):
         if self.editor is None:
-            from traitsui.api import DropEditor
+            try:
+                from traitsui.api import DropEditor
+
+                self.editor = DropEditor( klass    = self.aClass,
+                                          binding  = True,
+                                          readonly = False )
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
 
-            self.editor = DropEditor( klass    = self.aClass,
-                                      binding  = True,
-                                      readonly = False )
         return self.editor
 
     def post_setattr ( self, object, name, value ):