diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 65957a9..2e31503 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v5.4.0
         with:
           python-version: '3.12'
-      - run: uvx poetry install
+      - run: uvx poetry install --extras=ssr
       - run: uvx poetry run pytest -v -ra --cov --cov-report=term-missing
         env:
           COVERAGE_CORE: sysmon
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 676c7a9..1174148 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -297,11 +297,14 @@ class LogoutView(auth_views.LogoutView):
         return response
 ```
 
-### SSR 
+### SSR
 
 #### Backend
 
-Enable SSR via the `INERTIA_SSR_URL` and `INERTIA_SSR_ENABLED` settings
+* Ensure `requests` is installed, so inertia-django can do SSR requests.
+  * `requests` is configured as a dependency if you install the `[ssr]` extra,
+    e.g. `inertia-django[ssr]` in your requirements.
+* Enable SSR via the `INERTIA_SSR_URL` and `INERTIA_SSR_ENABLED` settings.
 
 #### Frontend
 
diff --git a/inertia/http.py b/inertia/http.py
index 7096341..9ddf96f 100644
--- a/inertia/http.py
+++ b/inertia/http.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from http import HTTPStatus
 from json import dumps as json_encode
 
-import requests
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 from django.http import HttpResponse
 from django.template.loader import render_to_string
@@ -11,6 +10,14 @@
 from .prop_classes import DeferredProp, IgnoreOnFirstLoadProp, MergeableProp
 from .settings import settings
 
+try:
+    # Must be early-imported so tests can patch it with
+    # a mock module
+    import requests
+except ImportError:
+    requests = None
+
+
 INERTIA_REQUEST_ENCRYPT_HISTORY = "_inertia_encrypt_history"
 INERTIA_SESSION_CLEAR_HISTORY = "_inertia_clear_history"
 
diff --git a/inertia/tests/test_ssr.py b/inertia/tests/test_ssr.py
index b9927e9..f2897f7 100644
--- a/inertia/tests/test_ssr.py
+++ b/inertia/tests/test_ssr.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 
 from django.test import override_settings
-from requests.exceptions import RequestException
 
 from inertia.test import InertiaTestCase, inertia_div, inertia_page
 
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def test_it_uses_inertia_if_inertia_requests_are_made(self, mock_requests):
     @patch("inertia.http.requests")
     def test_it_fallsback_on_failure(self, mock_requests):
         def uh_oh(*args, **kwargs):
-            raise RequestException()
+            raise ValueError()  # all exceptions are caught and ignored
 
         mock_response = Mock()
         mock_response.raise_for_status.side_effect = uh_oh
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 52a001f..2c14a7a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 dependencies = [
     "django>=4",
-    "requests>=2",
 ]
 
+[project.optional-dependencies]
+# Requests is requires for server-side rendering.
+ssr = ["requests>=2"]
+
 [tool.poetry]
 packages = [
   { include = "inertia" },