diff --git a/CyXTraX/simulation/artist_bridge.py b/CyXTraX/simulation/artist_bridge.py
index d8f611070588968aacab90915f983e418baf4e63..0f7ff94bba2f3ac9a4ffcdefe275f2429a1190c9 100644
--- a/CyXTraX/simulation/artist_bridge.py
+++ b/CyXTraX/simulation/artist_bridge.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-from artistlib import API, utility, SAVEMODES
+try:
+    from artistlib import API, utility, SAVEMODES  # type: ignore
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    from warnings import warn
+    warn('The module `artistlib`is not installed. The simulation module is not 100\% usable! \nInstall: https://github.com/wittlsn/aRTist-PythonLib')
+    API = lambda: None
+    utility = None
+    SAVEMODES = None
 from pathlib import Path
 import numpy as np
 import os