diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/express/schema_class.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/express/schema_class.py
index 1ae24453f0..53230c6b91 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/express/schema_class.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/express/schema_class.py
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ import templates
 
 from collections import defaultdict
 
-import ifcopenshell.ifcopenshell_wrapper as w
+try:
+    import ifcopenshell.ifcopenshell_wrapper as w
+except:
+    pass
 
 
 class LateBoundSchemaInstantiator: