diff --git a/_modules/ironicv1/common.py b/_modules/ironicv1/common.py
index b2a6071..11a3fa5 100644
--- a/_modules/ironicv1/common.py
+++ b/_modules/ironicv1/common.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import logging
-import os_client_config
+try:
+    import os_client_config
+except ImportError:
+    os_client_config = None
+from salt import exceptions
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -29,6 +33,10 @@
 
 
 def _get_raw_client(cloud_name):
+    if not os_client_config:
+        raise exceptions.SaltInvocationError(
+            "Cannot load os-client-config. Please check your environment "
+            "configuration.")
     service_type = 'baremetal'
     config = os_client_config.OpenStackConfig()
     cloud = config.get_one_cloud(cloud_name)