diff --git a/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py b/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
index e8597cc8..f0145341 100644
--- a/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
+++ b/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import sys
 import aiohttp
 import socket
 import struct
-import netifaces
 
 import logging
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -115,10 +114,12 @@ def is_interface_up(interface):
     :returns: boolean
     """
 
-    if interface not in netifaces.interfaces():
-        return False
-
     if sys.platform.startswith("linux"):
+
+        import netifaces
+        if interface not in netifaces.interfaces():
+            return False
+
         import fcntl
         SIOCGIFFLAGS = 0x8913
         try:
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ def interfaces():
 
     results = []
     if not sys.platform.startswith("win"):
+        import netifaces
         for interface in netifaces.interfaces():
             ip_address = ""
             ip_addresses = netifaces.ifaddresses(interface)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b0f8379b..a41e309b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -45,12 +45,14 @@ dependencies = [
     "raven>=5.2.0"
 ]
 
-try:
-    import netifaces
-except ImportError:
-    # add gns3-netifaces only if netifaces isn't already installed
-    # for instance via a Debian package.
-    dependencies.append("gns3-netifaces>=0.10.4.1")
+if not sys.platform.startswith("win"):
+    # netifaces if not used on Windows
+    try:
+        import netifaces
+    except ImportError:
+        # add gns3-netifaces only if netifaces isn't already installed
+        # for instance via a Debian package.
+        dependencies.append("gns3-netifaces>=0.10.4.1")
 
 setup(
     name="gns3-server",