diff --git a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
index 43f21986ff3456973ed9513e53285fb3c9ee6e3d..1d91cb0e5d19846463bc984c97a4233631193b13 100644
--- a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
+++ b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
@@ -25,10 +25,15 @@ import pango
 import os
 import sys
 
+
+HAS_PYWIN32 = True
 if os.name == 'nt':
-	import win32file
-	import win32con
-	import pywintypes
+	try:
+		import win32file
+		import win32con
+		import pywintypes
+	except ImportError:
+		HAS_PYWIN32 = False
 
 from common import i18n
 i18n.init()
@@ -356,6 +361,9 @@ def file_is_locked(path_to_file):
 	if os.name != 'nt': # just in case
 		return
 	
+	if not HAS_PYWIN32:
+		return
+	
 	secur_att = pywintypes.SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES()
 	secur_att.Initialize()