diff --git a/salt/modules/win_timezone.py b/salt/modules/win_timezone.py
index 9e4092d865f..7178dcb7e4d 100644
--- a/salt/modules/win_timezone.py
+++ b/salt/modules/win_timezone.py
@@ -6,12 +6,18 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals, print_function
 
 # Import Python libs
 import logging
-import pytz
 from datetime import datetime
 
 # Import Salt libs
 from salt.exceptions import CommandExecutionError
 
+# Import 3rd party libs
+try:
+    import pytz
+    HAS_PYTZ = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_PYTZ = False
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Define the module's virtual name
@@ -185,6 +191,8 @@ def __virtual__():
     '''
     if not __utils__['platform.is_windows']():
         return False, "Module win_timezone: Not on Windows client"
+    if not HAS_PYTZ:
+        return False, "Module win_timezone: pytz not found"
     if not __utils__['path.which']('tzutil'):
         return False, "Module win_timezone: tzutil not found"
     return __virtualname__
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 0841c935536..3ccbf47f978 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1121,6 +1121,7 @@ class SaltDistribution(distutils.dist.Distribution):
                 'wmi',
                 'site',
                 'psutil',
+                'pytz',
             ])
         elif IS_SMARTOS_PLATFORM:
             # we have them as requirements in pkg/smartos/esky/requirements.txt