diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/credstash.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/credstash.py
index febccfa5c6..5b4a0c0c40 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/credstash.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/credstash.py
@@ -29,13 +29,12 @@ except ImportError:
     CREDSTASH_INSTALLED = False
 
 
-if not CREDSTASH_INSTALLED:
-    raise AnsibleError('The credstash lookup plugin requires credstash to be installed.')
-
-
 class LookupModule(LookupBase):
     def run(self, terms, variables, **kwargs):
 
+        if not CREDSTASH_INSTALLED:
+            raise AnsibleError('The credstash lookup plugin requires credstash to be installed.')
+
         if isinstance(terms, basestring):
             terms = [terms]