diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/junos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/junos.py
index de52a663ae..2b1ba49faf 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/junos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/junos.py
@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ def xml_to_string(val):
 class Netconf(object):
 
     def __init__(self):
+        if not HAS_PYEZ:
+            raise NetworkError(
+                msg='junos-eznc >= 1.2.2 is required but does not appear to be installed.  '
+                'It can be installed using `pip install junos-eznc`'
+            )
+        if not HAS_JXMLEASE:
+            raise NetworkError(
+                msg='jxmlease is required but does not appear to be installed.  '
+                'It can be installed using `pip install jxmlease`'
+            )
         self.device = None
         self.config = None
         self._locked = False