diff --git a/axi/paths.py b/axi/paths.py
index d7508d1..27a3757 100644
--- a/axi/paths.py
+++ b/axi/paths.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 from math import hypot
-from pyhull.convex_hull import ConvexHull
 from shapely import geometry
 
 from .spatial import Index
 
+try:
+    from pyhull.convex_hull import ConvexHull
+except ImportError:
+    ConvexHull = None
+
 def load_paths(filename):
     paths = []
     with open(filename) as fp:
@@ -121,6 +125,9 @@ def crop_paths(paths, x1, y1, x2, y2):
     return result
 
 def convex_hull(points):
+    if ConvexHull is None:
+        raise Exception('path.convex_hull() requires pyhull')
+
     hull = ConvexHull(points)
     vertices = set(i for v in hull.vertices for i in v)
     return [hull.points[i] for i in vertices]