diff --git a/qstack/__init__.py b/qstack/__init__.py
index 71bb664..f9e7bb9 100644
--- a/qstack/__init__.py
+++ b/qstack/__init__.py
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@
 from qstack import spahm
 from qstack import mathutils
 from qstack import orcaio
+from qstack import qml
+if 'b2r2' not in dir(qml):
+    del qml
 
+
+# qstack.regression needs sklearn to work
 try:
     import sklearn
 except ImportError:
diff --git a/qstack/qml.py b/qstack/qml.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3448825
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qstack/qml.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# qstack.qml is in a different python package
+# but prefer "the local version of it" if we are in a development environment, and both sources are there.
+import os
+_qstack_qml_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'qstack-qml')
+if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(_qstack_qml_path, 'qstack_qml', '__init__.py')):
+    import sys
+    sys.path.insert(0,_qstack_qml_path)
+    from qstack_qml import *
+    sys.path.pop(0)
+    del sys
+else:
+    try:
+        from qstack_qml import *
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
+del os, _qstack_qml_path