diff --git a/mpisppy/convergers/primal_dual_converger.py b/mpisppy/convergers/primal_dual_converger.py
index 69ef0cb7..15e0ab17 100644
--- a/mpisppy/convergers/primal_dual_converger.py
+++ b/mpisppy/convergers/primal_dual_converger.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 import os
 import pandas as pd
-import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import mpisppy.convergers.converger
 from mpisppy import MPI
 from mpisppy.extensions.phtracker import TrackedData
@@ -149,6 +148,9 @@ def plot_results(self):
         Plot the results of the convergence checks
         by reading in csv file and plotting
         """
+        # don't create a hard dependency on matplotlib
+        import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
         plot_fname = self.tracker.plot_fname
         conv_data = pd.read_csv(self.tracker.fname)
 
@@ -167,4 +169,4 @@ def post_everything(self):
         Reading the convergence data and plotting the results
         '''
         if self.tracking and self._rank == 0:
-            self.plot_results()
\ No newline at end of file
+            self.plot_results()
diff --git a/mpisppy/extensions/phtracker.py b/mpisppy/extensions/phtracker.py
index c95ab462..dde9fafe 100644
--- a/mpisppy/extensions/phtracker.py
+++ b/mpisppy/extensions/phtracker.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
     Must use the PH object for this to work
 '''
 import ast
-import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 import os
 import pandas as pd
@@ -452,6 +451,9 @@ def add_xbars(self, final=False):
     def plot_gaps(self, var):
         ''' plot the gaps; Assumes gaps are saved in a csv file
         '''
+        # only import this if needed so we
+        # don't create a hard dependency
+        import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
         df = pd.read_csv(self.track_dict[var].fname, sep=',')
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4f6a0ef8..eef10dd6 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
         'numpy<2',
         'scipy',
         'pyomo>=6.4',
+        'pandas', # should probably remove
     ],
     extras_require={
         'doc': [