diff --git a/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py b/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py
index 4567968..7604670 100644
--- a/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py
+++ b/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@
 import os
 
 from cinderclient import client as cinder_client
-from gnocchiclient import client as gnocchi_client
+try:
+    from gnocchiclient import client as gnocchi_client
+except ImportError:
+    # catches ujson vs Python GCC compat problem,
+    # see https://github.com/esnme/ultrajson/issues/346
+    gnocchi_client = None
 from heatclient import client as heat_client
 from keystoneauth1 import exceptions as kc_exceptions
 from keystoneauth1.identity.generic import password
@@ -186,6 +191,8 @@
         return swift_client.Connection(**args)
 
     def _get_metric_client(self):
+        if gnocchi_client is None:
+            return None
 
         adapter_options = {'interface': self.conf.endpoint_type,
                            'region_name': self.conf.region}