diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
index b01daee573..858cacfe55 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
@@ -141,7 +141,11 @@ class TerminalFilter(object):
         if not self.interactive:
             return
 
-        import curses
+        try:
+            import curses
+        except ImportError:
+            sys.exit("FATAL: The knotty ui could not load the required curses python module.")
+	
         import termios
         self.curses = curses
         self.termios = termios
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/ncurses.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/ncurses.py
index 1425bbd263..f573b95574 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/ncurses.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/ncurses.py
@@ -47,7 +47,13 @@
 
 from __future__ import division
 import logging
-import os, sys, curses, itertools, time, subprocess
+import os, sys, itertools, time, subprocess
+
+try:
+    import curses
+except ImportError:
+    sys.exit("FATAL: The ncurses ui could not load the required curses python module.")
+
 import bb
 import xmlrpclib
 from bb import ui