diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 2aa8e236..1af4adb1 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ whisper-local =
     soundfile
 whisper-api =
     openai
+assemblyai =
+    requests
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 29c0c82e..a3bfbb41 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -70,5 +70,5 @@ def run(self):
         "Topic :: Multimedia :: Sound/Audio :: Speech",
     ],
     python_requires=">=3.9",
-    install_requires=['requests>=2.26.0', "typing-extensions"],
+    install_requires=["typing-extensions"],
 )
diff --git a/speech_recognition/__init__.py b/speech_recognition/__init__.py
index e371ca0a..253ab0fe 100644
--- a/speech_recognition/__init__.py
+++ b/speech_recognition/__init__.py
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
 from urllib.request import Request, urlopen
 
-try:
-    import requests
-except (ModuleNotFoundError, ImportError):
-    pass
-
 from .audio import AudioData, get_flac_converter
 from .exceptions import (
     RequestError,
@@ -1260,6 +1255,8 @@ def read_file(filename, chunk_size=5242880):
                         break
                     yield data
 
+        import requests
+
         check_existing = audio_data is None and job_name
         if check_existing:
             # Query status.