diff --git a/tests/load/sources/sql_database/conftest.py b/tests/load/sources/sql_database/conftest.py
index 6b6d1b3946..3a0a933af6 100644
--- a/tests/load/sources/sql_database/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/load/sources/sql_database/conftest.py
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
-from typing import Iterator
+from typing import Iterator, Any
 
 import pytest
 
 import dlt
 from dlt.sources.credentials import ConnectionStringCredentials
-from tests.load.sources.sql_database.sql_source import SQLAlchemySourceDB
+
+try:
+    from tests.load.sources.sql_database.sql_source import SQLAlchemySourceDB
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    SQLAlchemySourceDB = Any
+    pytest.skip("test needs sql_alchemy")
 
 
 def _create_db(**kwargs) -> Iterator[SQLAlchemySourceDB]:
diff --git a/tests/sources/sql_database/test_sql_database_pipeline_template.py b/tests/sources/sql_database/test_sql_database_pipeline_template.py
index e167a42597..88c05ea333 100644
--- a/tests/sources/sql_database/test_sql_database_pipeline_template.py
+++ b/tests/sources/sql_database/test_sql_database_pipeline_template.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
+
 # TODO: not all template functions are tested here
 # we may be able to test more in tests/load/sources
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(