diff --git a/spyder/app/start.py b/spyder/app/start.py
index 7f3826719..38ac6498d 100644
--- a/spyder/app/start.py
+++ b/spyder/app/start.py
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
+try:
+    import zmq
+except:
+    pass
+
 # Std imports
 import ctypes
 import os
@@ -11,7 +16,10 @@ import time
 
 # To prevent a race condition with ZMQ
 # See issue 5324
-import zmq
+try:
+    import zmq
+except:
+    pass
 
 # Load GL library to prevent segmentation faults on some Linux systems
 # See issues 3226 and 3332