diff --git a/nglview/tests/test_widget.py b/nglview/tests/test_widget.py
index f1ef2b91..a64753ab 100644
--- a/nglview/tests/test_widget.py
+++ b/nglview/tests/test_widget.py
@@ -26,65 +26,24 @@
 from utils import get_fn
 from utils import repr_dict as REPR_DICT
 
-try:
-    import simpletraj
-    has_simpletraj = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_simpletraj = False
-
-try:
-    import pytraj as pt
-    has_pytraj = True
-except ImportError:
-    pt = None
-    has_pytraj = False
-
-try:
-    import mdtraj as md
-    has_mdtraj = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_mdtraj = False
-try:
-    import parmed as pmd
-    has_parmed = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_parmed = False
-
-try:
-    import MDAnalysis
-    has_MDAnalysis = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_MDAnalysis = False
-
-try:
-    import htmd
-    has_HTMD = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_HTMD = False
-
-try:
-    import ase
-    has_ase = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_ase = False
-
-try:
-    import pymatgen
-    has_pymatgen = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_pymatgen = False
-
-try:
-    import Bio.PDB
-    has_bio = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_bio = False
-
-try:
-    import qcelemental
-    has_qcelemental = True
-except ImportError:
-    has_qcelemental = False
+modules = {
+    'simpletraj': 'has_simpletraj',
+    'pytraj': 'has_pytraj',
+    'mdtraj': 'has_mdtraj',
+    'parmed': 'has_parmed',
+    'MDAnalysis': 'has_MDAnalysis',
+    'htmd': 'has_HTMD',
+    'ase': 'has_ase',
+    'pymatgen': 'has_pymatgen',
+    'Bio.PDB': 'has_bio',
+    'qcelemental': 'has_qcelemental'
+}
+
+for module, var in modules.items():
+    try:
+        globals()[var] = __import__(module)
+    except ImportError:
+        globals()[var] = False
 
 
 def get_mocked_traj():