diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -31,10 +31,16 @@ requirements = [
     'requests>=2.13.0',
     'scipy>=0.18.1',
     'six>=1.10.0',
-    'tensorflow>=1.0.0',
     'Werkzeug>=0.11.15',
 ]
 
+# only add tensorflow as a requirement if it is not already provided.
+# E.g. tensorflow-gpu
+try:
+    import tensorflow
+except ImportError:
+    requirements.append('tensorflow>=1.0.0')
+
 test_requirements = [
     'pytest',
     'pytest-flask',
only add tensorflow as a requirement if it is not already provided (#<I>)