diff --git a/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py b/heat_tempest_plugin/services/clients.py
index d6e1dfb..c5576e1 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.identity.generic import password
 from keystoneauth1 import session
@@ -183,6 +188,8 @@
         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}
diff --git a/heat_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/test_aodh_alarm.py b/heat_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/test_aodh_alarm.py
index 4e25158..294f821 100644
--- a/heat_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/test_aodh_alarm.py
+++ b/heat_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/test_aodh_alarm.py
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
                                             'test_aodh_alarm.yaml',
                                             'templates')
 
+    def check_skip(self):
+        super(AodhAlarmTest, self).check_skip()
+        if self.metric_client is None:
+            self.skipTest("Gnocchiclient is not available")
+
     def check_instance_count(self, stack_identifier, expected):
         stack = self.client.stacks.get(stack_identifier)
         actual = self._stack_output(stack, 'asg_size')