diff --git a/bin/lessc b/bin/lessc
index 93d9d849..ae617e7b 100755
--- a/bin/lessc
+++ b/bin/lessc
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 var path = require('path'),
     fs = require('fs'),
-    mkdirp = require('mkdirp'),
     sys = require('util'),
-    os = require('os');
+    os = require('os'),
+    mkdirp;
 
 var less = require('../lib/less');
 var args = process.argv.slice(1);
@@ -129,9 +129,14 @@ if (! input) {
 
 var ensureDirectory = function (filepath) {
     var dir = path.dirname(filepath),
-        cmd = mkdirp && mkdirp.sync || fs.mkdirSync,
+        cmd,
         existsSync = fs.existsSync || path.existsSync;
     if (!existsSync(dir)) {
+        if (mkdirp === undefined) {
+            try {mkdirp = require('mkdirp');}
+            catch(e) { mkdirp = null; }
+        }
+        cmd = mkdirp && mkdirp.sync || fs.mkdirSync;
         cmd(dir);
     }
 };
diff --git a/lib/less/index.js b/lib/less/index.js
index 20a6c8e4..4005a74f 100644
--- a/lib/less/index.js
+++ b/lib/less/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 var path = require('path'),
     sys = require('util'),
     url = require('url'),
-    request = require('request'),
+    request,
     fs = require('fs');
 
 var less = {
@@ -137,7 +137,10 @@ less.Parser.importer = function (file, paths, callback, env) {
     
     var isUrl = isUrlRe.test( file );
     if (isUrl || isUrlRe.test(paths[0])) {
-    
+        if (request === undefined) {
+            try { request = require('request'); }
+            catch(e) { request = null; }
+        }
         if (!request) {
             callback({ type: 'File', message: "optional dependency 'request' required to import over http(s)\n" });
             return;