diff --git a/avatar/views.py b/avatar/views.py
index c5b9bbb..1d06be6 100644
--- a/avatar/views.py
+++ b/avatar/views.py
@@ -17,11 +17,9 @@ try:
 except ImproperlyConfigured:
     notification = None
 
-try:
-    from friends.models import Friendship
+friends = False
+if 'friends' in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
     friends = True
-except ImportError:
-    friends = False
 
 def _get_next(request):
     """
@@ -76,7 +74,8 @@ def change(request, extra_context={}, next_override=None):
                 message=_("Successfully updated your avatar."))
         if updated and notification:
             notification.send([request.user], "avatar_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": avatar})
-            notification.send((x['friend'] for x in Friendship.objects.friends_for_user(request.user)), "avatar_friend_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": avatar})
+            if friends:
+                notification.send((x['friend'] for x in Friendship.objects.friends_for_user(request.user)), "avatar_friend_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": avatar})
         return HttpResponseRedirect(next_override or _get_next(request))
     return render_to_response(
         'avatar/change.html',
@@ -107,7 +106,8 @@ def delete(request, extra_context={}, next_override=None):
                         a.primary = True
                         a.save()
                         notification.send([request.user], "avatar_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": a})
-                        notification.send((x['friend'] for x in Friendship.objects.friends_for_user(request.user)), "avatar_friend_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": a})
+                        if friends:
+                            notification.send((x['friend'] for x in Friendship.objects.friends_for_user(request.user)), "avatar_friend_updated", {"user": request.user, "avatar": a})
                         break
             Avatar.objects.filter(id__in=ids).delete()
             request.user.message_set.create(