diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index c41f68108b..df7674c028 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
       with:
         python-version: 3.8
     - name: Install requirements
-      run: pip install ".[all,tests]" Pygments collective.checkdocs pre-commit
+      run: pip install ".[all,tests]" Pygments collective.checkdocs pre-commit git+https://github.com/intake/gdrivefs.git
     - name: Check README
       run: python setup.py checkdocs
     - uses: pre-commit/action@v2.0.0
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index da6712efd9..f4f13d569d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ def run(self):
     "mypy",
     "wsgidav",
     "crc32c",
-    "gdrivefs @ git+https://github.com/intake/gdrivefs.git",
+    # pypi doesn't allow for direct dependencies
+    #    "gdrivefs @ git+https://github.com/intake/gdrivefs.git",
 ]
 
 setup(
diff --git a/tests/remotes/gdrive.py b/tests/remotes/gdrive.py
index c35497fbee..48216bf22a 100644
--- a/tests/remotes/gdrive.py
+++ b/tests/remotes/gdrive.py
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ def get_url():
     @cached_property
     def client(self):
         import pydata_google_auth
-        from gdrivefs import GoogleDriveFileSystem
+
+        try:
+            from gdrivefs import GoogleDriveFileSystem
+        except ImportError:
+            pytest.skip("gdrivefs is not installed")
 
         tmp_path = tmp_fname()
         with open(tmp_path, "w") as stream: