diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/__init__.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/__init__.py
index dee2ef8..c0819b5 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/__init__.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/__init__.py
@@ -16,19 +16,23 @@
 """
 {{cookiecutter.project_short_description}}
 """
+from __future__ import print_function
 
-import semver
 from .version import __version__
 
-__version_info__ = semver.parse_version_info(__version__)
+try:
+    import semver
+    __version_info__ = semver.parse_version_info(__version__)
 
-if __version_info__.prerelease:
-    import logging
-    logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-    msg = 'WARNING: You are using a pre-release version of {} ({})'.format(
-        __name__, __version__)
-    if len(logging.root.handlers) > 0:
-        logger.info(msg)
-    else:
-        import sys
-        print(msg, file=sys.stderr)
+    if __version_info__.prerelease:
+        import logging
+        logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+        msg = 'WARNING: You are using a pre-release version of {} ({})'.format(
+            __name__, __version__)
+        if len(logging.root.handlers) > 0:
+            logger.info(msg)
+        else:
+            import sys
+            print(msg, file=sys.stderr)
+except ImportError:
+    print('semver not installed. Not doing version checking')