diff --git a/builder/kojid b/builder/kojid
index 726d5354..5149ce5b 100755
--- a/builder/kojid
+++ b/builder/kojid
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 try:
     import krbV
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    pass
+    krbV = None
 import koji
 import koji.plugin
 import koji.util
@@ -5782,7 +5782,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             quit("Error: Unable to log in. Bad credentials?")
         except xmlrpclib.ProtocolError:
             quit("Error: Unable to connect to server %s" % (options.server))
-    elif 'krbV' in sys.modules:
+    elif krbV and 'krbV' in sys.modules:
         krb_principal = options.krb_principal
         if krb_principal is None:
             krb_principal = options.host_principal_format % socket.getfqdn()
diff --git a/plugins/hub/messagebus.py b/plugins/hub/messagebus.py
index 1e208c4c..a45561c8 100644
--- a/plugins/hub/messagebus.py
+++ b/plugins/hub/messagebus.py
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ import qpid.messaging.transports
 from ssl import wrap_socket
 import socket
 import os
-import krbV
+try:
+    import krbV
+except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
+    krbV = None
 
 MAX_KEY_LENGTH = 255
 CONFIG_FILE = '/etc/koji-hub/plugins/messagebus.conf'
@@ -105,6 +108,9 @@ def get_sender():
         url += config.get('broker', 'username') + '/'
         url += config.get('broker', 'password') + '@'
     elif auth == 'GSSAPI':
+        if krbV is None:
+            # TODO: port this to python-gssapi
+            raise PluginError('krbV module not installed')
         ccname = 'MEMORY:messagebus'
         os.environ['KRB5CCNAME'] = ccname
         ctx = krbV.default_context()
diff --git a/util/koji-gc b/util/koji-gc
index 89cc4925..ae48648b 100755
--- a/util/koji-gc
+++ b/util/koji-gc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 try:
     import krbV
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    pass
+    krbV = None
 import koji
 from koji.util import LazyDict, LazyValue
 import koji.policy
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ def ensure_connection(session):
         warn(_("WARNING: The server is at API version %d and the client is at %d" % (ret, koji.API_VERSION)))
 
 def has_krb_creds():
-    if 'krbV' not in sys.modules:
+    if krbV is None or 'krbV' not in sys.modules:
         return False
     try:
         ctx = krbV.default_context()
diff --git a/util/koji-shadow b/util/koji-shadow
index a958c9cb..d53f19d6 100755
--- a/util/koji-shadow
+++ b/util/koji-shadow
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 try:
     import krbV
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    pass
+    krbV = None
 import koji
 import ConfigParser
 import fnmatch
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ def activate_session(session):
     elif options.user:
         #authenticate using user/password
         session.login()
-    elif 'krbV' in sys.modules:
+    elif krbV and 'krbV' in sys.modules:
         try:
             if options.keytab and options.principal:
                 session.krb_login(principal=options.principal, keytab=options.keytab, proxyuser=options.runas)
diff --git a/vm/kojivmd b/vm/kojivmd
index 41789ec4..d2c1d9db 100755
--- a/vm/kojivmd
+++ b/vm/kojivmd
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 try:
     import krbV
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    pass
+    krbV = None
 
 
 # Register libvirt handler
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             quit("Error: Unable to log in. Bad credentials?")
         except xmlrpclib.ProtocolError:
             quit("Error: Unable to connect to server %s" % (options.server))
-    elif 'krbV' in sys.modules:
+    elif krbV and 'krbV' in sys.modules:
         krb_principal = options.krb_principal
         if krb_principal is None:
             krb_principal = options.host_principal_format % socket.getfqdn()