diff --git a/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py b/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
index 80ca87b877..518ac6e89f 100644
--- a/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
+++ b/pyart/graph/gridmapdisplay.py
@@ -6,16 +6,10 @@
 
 import warnings
 
+import cartopy
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
-try:
-    import cartopy  # noqa
-
-    _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE = True
-except ImportError:
-    _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE = False
-
 try:
     import metpy  # noqa
 
@@ -76,11 +70,6 @@ class GridMapDisplay:
 
     def __init__(self, grid, debug=False):
         """initalize the object."""
-        # check that cartopy and xarray are available
-        if not _CARTOPY_AVAILABLE:
-            raise MissingOptionalDependency(
-                "Cartopy is required to use GridMapDisplay but is not installed!"
-            )
         if not _XARRAY_AVAILABLE:
             raise MissingOptionalDependency(
                 "Xarray is required to use GridMapDisplay but is not installed!"
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index c1fe381533..736c3569c0 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -11,4 +11,5 @@ xradar>=0.5.0
 pandas
 mda-xdrlib
 xarray!=0.21.0
+cartopy
 pint