diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b3688bcfe665d29e5eac7448f7683aeae9c88cab_c2V0dXAucHk=..6c7ac1eb4fd55832fe93bf0569d940554e649d19_c2V0dXAucHk= 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import setuptools
 
-try:
-    import setuptools_scm
+# don't guard this with a try; users should use pip for
+# installing/building hg-git, as it ensures the proper dependencies
+# are present
+import setuptools_scm
 
@@ -5,6 +7,4 @@
 
-    assert setuptools_scm  # silence pyflakes
-except ImportError:
-    pass
+assert setuptools_scm  # silence pyflakes
 
 setuptools.setup()