diff --git a/ramannoodle/exceptions.py b/ramannoodle/exceptions.py
index b900b4d..866d929 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/exceptions.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/exceptions.py
@@ -133,3 +133,9 @@ def verify_positions(name: str, array: NDArray) -> None:
     verify_ndarray_shape(name, array, (None, 3))
     if (0 > array).any() or (array > 1.0).any():
         raise ValueError(f"{name} has coordinates that are not between 0 and 1")
+
+
+def get_torch_missing_error() -> UsageError:
+    """Get error indicating that torch is not installed."""
+    required_modules = "'torch', 'torch-scatter', and 'torch-sparse' modules"
+    return UsageError(f"torch functionality requires {required_modules}")
diff --git a/ramannoodle/io/generic.py b/ramannoodle/io/generic.py
index c9c0d3a..3558c1b 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/io/generic.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/io/generic.py
@@ -12,17 +12,18 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 from numpy.typing import NDArray
-from ramannoodle.dynamics.phonon import Phonons
 
+from ramannoodle.dynamics.phonon import Phonons
 from ramannoodle.dynamics.trajectory import Trajectory
-
 from ramannoodle.structure.reference import ReferenceStructure
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import UsageError, get_torch_missing_error
 import ramannoodle.io.vasp as vasp_io
 
+TORCH_PRESENT = True
 try:
-    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch import dataset
-except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dummy_dataset as dataset  # type: ignore
+    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dataset import PolarizabilityDataset
+except UsageError:
+    TORCH_PRESENT = False
 
 # These  map between file formats and appropriate IO functions.
 _PHONON_READERS = {
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ def read_structure_and_polarizability(
 def read_polarizability_dataset(
     filepaths: str | Path | list[str] | list[Path],
     file_format: str,
-) -> dataset.PolarizabilityDataset:
+) -> "PolarizabilityDataset":
     """Read polarizability dataset from files.
 
     Parameters
@@ -214,6 +215,8 @@ def read_polarizability_dataset(
     IncompatibleFileException
         File is incompatible with the dataset.
     """
+    if not TORCH_PRESENT:
+        raise get_torch_missing_error()
     try:
         return _POLARIZABILITY_DATASET_READERS[file_format](filepaths)
     except KeyError as exc:
diff --git a/ramannoodle/io/io_utils.py b/ramannoodle/io/io_utils.py
index f2c4f72..93c03bd 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/io/io_utils.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/io/io_utils.py
@@ -13,13 +13,16 @@
     verify_positions,
     verify_list_len,
     IncompatibleStructureException,
+    get_torch_missing_error,
+    UsageError,
 )
 from ramannoodle.globals import ATOM_SYMBOLS
 
+TORCH_PRESENT = True
 try:
-    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch import dataset
-except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dummy_dataset as dataset  # type: ignore
+    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dataset import PolarizabilityDataset
+except UsageError:
+    TORCH_PRESENT = False
 
 
 def _skip_file_until_line_contains(file: TextIO, content: str) -> str:
@@ -99,7 +102,7 @@ def _read_polarizability_dataset(
         [str | Path],
         tuple[NDArray[np.float64], list[int], NDArray[np.float64], NDArray[np.float64]],
     ],
-) -> dataset.PolarizabilityDataset:
+) -> "PolarizabilityDataset":
     """Read polarizability dataset from OUTCAR files.
 
     Parameters
@@ -118,11 +121,9 @@ def _read_polarizability_dataset(
         File has an unexpected format.
     IncompatibleFileException
         File is incompatible with the dataset.
-    ModuleNotFoundError
-        Torch installation could not be found.
     """
-    if not dataset.TORCH_PRESENT:
-        raise ModuleNotFoundError("torch installation not found")
+    if not TORCH_PRESENT:
+        raise get_torch_missing_error()
     filepaths = pathify_as_list(filepaths)
 
     lattices: list[NDArray[np.float64]] = []
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ def _read_polarizability_dataset(
         positions_list.append(positions)
         polarizabilities.append(polarizability)
 
-    return dataset.PolarizabilityDataset(
+    return PolarizabilityDataset(
         np.array(lattices),
         atomic_numbers_list,
         np.array(positions_list),
diff --git a/ramannoodle/io/vasp/outcar.py b/ramannoodle/io/vasp/outcar.py
index c4fb045..7baae6e 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/io/vasp/outcar.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/io/vasp/outcar.py
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@
 )
 from ramannoodle.exceptions import InvalidFileException, NoMatchingLineFoundException
 from ramannoodle.globals import ATOMIC_WEIGHTS, ATOMIC_NUMBERS
-from ramannoodle.exceptions import get_type_error
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import get_type_error, UsageError
 from ramannoodle.dynamics.phonon import Phonons
 from ramannoodle.dynamics.trajectory import Trajectory
 from ramannoodle.structure.reference import ReferenceStructure
 
 try:
-    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch import dataset
-except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dummy_dataset as dataset  # type: ignore
+    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dataset import PolarizabilityDataset
+except UsageError:
+    pass
 
 
 # Utilities for OUTCAR. Warning: some of these functions partially read files.
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ def read_structure_and_polarizability(
 
 def read_polarizability_dataset(
     filepaths: str | Path | list[str] | list[Path],
-) -> dataset.PolarizabilityDataset:
+) -> "PolarizabilityDataset":
     """Read polarizability dataset from OUTCAR files.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/ramannoodle/io/vasp/vasprun.py b/ramannoodle/io/vasp/vasprun.py
index a028a14..c2b0287 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/io/vasp/vasprun.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/io/vasp/vasprun.py
@@ -9,16 +9,16 @@
 from numpy.typing import NDArray
 
 from ramannoodle.io.io_utils import pathify, _read_polarizability_dataset
-from ramannoodle.exceptions import InvalidFileException
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import InvalidFileException, UsageError
 from ramannoodle.globals import ATOMIC_WEIGHTS, ATOMIC_NUMBERS
 from ramannoodle.dynamics.phonon import Phonons
 from ramannoodle.dynamics.trajectory import Trajectory
 from ramannoodle.structure.reference import ReferenceStructure
 
 try:
-    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch import dataset
-except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dummy_dataset as dataset  # type: ignore
+    from ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.dataset import PolarizabilityDataset
+except UsageError:
+    pass
 
 
 def _get_root_element(file: TextIO) -> Element:
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def read_structure_and_polarizability(
 
 def read_polarizability_dataset(
     filepaths: str | Path | list[str] | list[Path],
-) -> dataset.PolarizabilityDataset:
+) -> "PolarizabilityDataset":
     """Read polarizability dataset from OUTCAR files.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dataset.py b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dataset.py
index 64cf3ba..402a62a 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dataset.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dataset.py
@@ -5,12 +5,21 @@
 import numpy as np
 from numpy.typing import NDArray
 
-import torch
-from torch import Tensor
-from torch.utils.data import Dataset
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import (
+    verify_ndarray_shape,
+    verify_list_len,
+    get_type_error,
+    get_torch_missing_error,
+)
+
+try:
+    import torch
+    from torch import Tensor
+    from torch.utils.data import Dataset
+    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.utils as rn_torch_utils
+except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
+    raise get_torch_missing_error() from exc
 
-from ramannoodle.exceptions import verify_ndarray_shape, verify_list_len, get_type_error
-import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.utils as rn_torch_utils
 
 TORCH_PRESENT = True
 
diff --git a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dummy_dataset.py b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dummy_dataset.py
deleted file mode 100644
index f22b67f..0000000
--- a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/dummy_dataset.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-"""Dummy polarizability PyTorch dataset.
-
-Used when torch installation cannot be found.
-
-:meta private:
-"""
-
-import numpy as np
-from numpy.typing import NDArray
-
-TORCH_PRESENT = False
-
-
-class PolarizabilityDataset:  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
-    """PyTorch dataset of atomic structures and polarizabilities.
-
-    Polarizabilities are scaled and flattened into vectors containing the six
-    independent tensor components.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    lattices
-        | (Å) 3D array with shape (S,3,3) where S is the number of samples.
-    atomic_numbers
-        | List of length S containing lists of length N, where N is the number of atoms.
-    positions
-        | (fractional) 3D array with shape (S,N,3).
-    polarizabilities
-        | 3D array with shape (S,3,3).
-    scale_mode
-        | Supports ``"standard"`` (standard scaling), ``"stddev"`` (division by
-        | standard deviation), and ``"none"`` (no scaling).
-
-    """
-
-    def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
-        self,
-        lattices: NDArray[np.float64],
-        atomic_numbers: list[list[int]],
-        positions: NDArray[np.float64],
-        polarizabilities: NDArray[np.float64],
-        scale_mode: str = "standard",
-    ):
-        raise ModuleNotFoundError("torch installation not found")
diff --git a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/gnn.py b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/gnn.py
index f8feb8d..04f4e8b 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/gnn.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/gnn.py
@@ -4,25 +4,30 @@
 
 import typing
 
-import torch
-from torch import Tensor
-from torch.nn import (
-    BatchNorm1d,
-    Embedding,
-    Linear,
-    ModuleList,
-    Sequential,
-    Module,
-    LayerNorm,
-)
-
-from torch_geometric.nn.inits import reset
-from torch_geometric.nn.models.dimenet import triplets
-from torch_geometric.nn.models.schnet import ShiftedSoftplus
-from torch_geometric.utils import scatter
-
 from ramannoodle.structure.reference import ReferenceStructure
-import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.utils as rn_torch_utils
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import get_torch_missing_error
+
+try:
+    import torch
+    from torch import Tensor
+    from torch.nn import (
+        BatchNorm1d,
+        Embedding,
+        Linear,
+        ModuleList,
+        Sequential,
+        Module,
+        LayerNorm,
+    )
+
+    from torch_geometric.nn.inits import reset
+    from torch_geometric.nn.models.dimenet import triplets
+    from torch_geometric.nn.models.schnet import ShiftedSoftplus
+    from torch_geometric.utils import scatter
+
+    import ramannoodle.polarizability.torch.utils as rn_torch_utils
+except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
+    raise get_torch_missing_error() from exc
 
 # pylint: disable=not-callable
 
diff --git a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/utils.py b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/utils.py
index f284df0..790a780 100644
--- a/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/utils.py
+++ b/ramannoodle/polarizability/torch/utils.py
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 
 from typing import Sequence
 
-import torch
-from torch import Tensor
+from ramannoodle.exceptions import get_type_error, get_torch_missing_error
 
-from ramannoodle.exceptions import get_type_error
+try:
+    import torch
+    from torch import Tensor
+except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
+    raise get_torch_missing_error() from exc
 
 # pylint complains about torch.norm
 # pylint: disable=not-callable