diff --git a/spyderlib/spyder.py b/spyderlib/spyder.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/spyderlib/spyder.py
+++ b/spyderlib/spyder.py
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@ if is_module_installed('IPython', '>=0.12'):
         # bootstrap script has eventually set this option), switch to 

         # PyQt API #2 by simply importing the IPython qt module

         os.environ['QT_API'] = 'pyqt'

-        from IPython.external import qt  #analysis:ignore

+        try:

+            from IPython.external import qt  #analysis:ignore

+        except ImportError:

+            # Avoid raising any error here: the spyderlib.requirements module

+            # will take care of it, in a user-friendly way (Tkinter message box

+            # if no GUI toolkit is installed)

+            pass

 

 # Check requirements

 from spyderlib import requirements
Fixed regression introduced with revision ed<I>bb<I>b<I>a: no Tkinter message was
shown when neither PyQt4 or PySide was installed