diff --git a/bcbio/srna/group.py b/bcbio/srna/group.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/bcbio/srna/group.py
+++ b/bcbio/srna/group.py
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ import shutil
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 import pysam
-from seqcluster import prepare_data as prepare
-from seqcluster import make_clusters as main_cluster
-from seqcluster.libs.inputs import parse_ma_file
-from seqcluster.libs import parse
+try:
+    from seqcluster import prepare_data as prepare
+    from seqcluster import make_clusters as main_cluster
+    from seqcluster.libs.inputs import parse_ma_file
+    from seqcluster.libs import parse
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from bcbio.utils import file_exists, safe_makedir
 from bcbio.provenance import do
diff --git a/bcbio/srna/sample.py b/bcbio/srna/sample.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/bcbio/srna/sample.py
+++ b/bcbio/srna/sample.py
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ import sys
 import os.path as op
 import shutil
 from collections import Counter
-from seqcluster.libs.fastq import collapse, write_output
+try:
+    from seqcluster.libs.fastq import collapse, write_output
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from bcbio.utils import (splitext_plus, file_exists, append_stem, replace_directory)
 from bcbio.provenance import do
Make seqcluster requirement soft (cc @lpantano)

- Do not require seqcluster if not running the small RNA pipeline.
- Preparation for adding seqcluster as a soft dependency of bcbio
  and checking issues with circular requirements.