diff --git a/esda/map_comparison.py b/esda/map_comparison.py
index 3b82d9cd..99eccf76 100644
--- a/esda/map_comparison.py
+++ b/esda/map_comparison.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 try:
     import pygeos
-except:
+except (ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError):
     pass  # gets handled in the _cast function.
 
 # from nowosad and stepinski
diff --git a/esda/shape.py b/esda/shape.py
index 9ac6d96c..0e03a411 100644
--- a/esda/shape.py
+++ b/esda/shape.py
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import numpy
 import pandas
+
+try:
+    import pygeos
+except (ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError):
+    pass  # gets handled at the _cast level.
+
 from .crand import njit, prange