diff --git a/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py b/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
index e5c9393c01..23c95b161a 100644
--- a/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
+++ b/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ def test_numba_backend_options(pymc_model, recwarn, backend):
 
 
 def test_invalid_nutpie_backend_raises(pymc_model):
+    pytest.importorskip("nutpie")
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='Expected one of "numba" or "jax"; found "invalid"'):
         with pymc_model:
             sample(nuts_sampler="nutpie[invalid]", random_seed=123, chains=2, tune=500, draws=500)