diff --git a/docs/test-deps.py b/docs/test-deps.py
index 5c5330cbf..c7e400a65 100755
--- a/docs/test-deps.py
+++ b/docs/test-deps.py
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1+
 
 import sys
-import markdown
+
+try:
+    import markdown
+except ImportError:
+    print("Missing 'markdown' python module")
+    sys.exit(1)
 
 try:
     from packaging.version import Version