diff --git a/asv/plugins/__init__.py b/asv/plugins/__init__.py
index 9dce85d06..3a3064398 100644
--- a/asv/plugins/__init__.py
+++ b/asv/plugins/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
 # Licensed under a 3-clause BSD style license - see LICENSE.rst
+
+# Import to make sure plugins are discoverable
+import asv.plugins.conda
+import asv.plugins.mamba
diff --git a/asv/plugins/mamba.py b/asv/plugins/mamba.py
index d3728a866..1aa9c82c3 100644
--- a/asv/plugins/mamba.py
+++ b/asv/plugins/mamba.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@
 except ImportError:
     from yaml import Loader
 
-from mamba.api import libmambapy, MambaSolver
+try:
+    from mamba.api import MambaSolver
+    import libmambapy
+    _HAS_LIBMAMBAPY = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_LIBMAMBAPY = False
+
 
 from .. import environment, util
 from ..console import log
@@ -51,6 +57,8 @@ def __init__(self, conf, python, requirements, tagged_env_vars):
             Dictionary mapping a PyPI package name to a version
             identifier string.
         """
+        if not _HAS_LIBMAMBAPY:
+            raise ImportError("Failed to import 'libmambapy' Python module.")
         self._python = python
         self._requirements = requirements
         self._mamba_channels = conf.conda_channels
diff --git a/docs/source/using.rst b/docs/source/using.rst
index faf445776..420b70271 100644
--- a/docs/source/using.rst
+++ b/docs/source/using.rst
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ suite are:
 - ``environment_type``: The tool used to create environments.  May be
   ``conda`` or ``virtualenv`` or ``mamba``.  If Conda supports the
   dependencies you need, that is the recommended method. Mamba is faster
-  but needs a newer Python version (3.8 or greater).
+  but needs a newer Python version (3.8 or greater) and the ``libmambapy``
+  package must be installed to provide access to the mamba Python API.
   See :ref:`environments` for more information.
 
 - ``matrix``: Dependencies you want to preinstall into the environment