diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6da01ba7b..c2cf3540d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def get_package_data(root_dir):
 tests_require = ['coverage', 'jupyter', 'mypy', 'types-redis', 'types-python-dateutil', 'pytest']
 
 install_requires = [
-    'apscheduler', 'attrs', 'dulwich', 'h5py', 'hickle', 'IPython>=0.1', 'jupyter', 'lmfit', 'matplotlib>=3.0',
+    'apscheduler', 'attrs', 'dulwich', 'h5py', 'IPython>=0.1', 'jupyter', 'lmfit', 'matplotlib>=3.0',
     'numdifftools', 'numpy>=1.15', 'opencv-python', 'PyQt5', 'pyqtgraph', 'pyvisa', 'pyzmqrpc', 'qcodes>=0.23.0',
     'qcodes-contrib-drivers', 'qilib', 'qtpy', 'qupulse', 'redis', 'scipy', 'scikit-image',
     'shapely', 'sympy'
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def get_package_data(root_dir):
     install_requires.append('pywin32')
 
 rtd_requires = [
-    'sphinx>=1.7', 'sphinx_rtd_theme', 'nbsphinx', 'sphinx-automodapi','sphinx_copybutton'
+    'sphinx>=1.7', 'sphinx_rtd_theme', 'nbsphinx', 'sphinx-automodapi', 'sphinx_copybutton'
 ]
 
 extras_require = {"rtd": rtd_requires}
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def get_package_data(root_dir):
           'Programming Language :: Python :: 3',
           'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7',
           'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8',
+          'Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9',
           'Topic :: Scientific/Engineering'
       ],
       license='MIT',
diff --git a/src/qtt/data.py b/src/qtt/data.py
index 6ccd1188f..27da13b3f 100644
--- a/src/qtt/data.py
+++ b/src/qtt/data.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def load_example_dataset(filename: str, verbose: int = 0) -> Optional[DataSet]:
     Returns:
         Example dataset or None of no dataset can be found
     """
-    exampledatadir = os.path.join(qtt.__path__[0], 'exampledata') # type: ignore # mypy issue #1422
+    exampledatadir = os.path.join(qtt.__path__[0], 'exampledata')  # type: ignore # mypy issue #1422
 
     dataset = qtt.data.load_dataset(os.path.join(exampledatadir, filename), verbose=verbose)
     return dataset
@@ -165,8 +165,12 @@ def load_dataset(location, io=None, verbose=0):
     formatters = [DataSet.default_formatter]
 
     from qcodes.data.hdf5_format import HDF5FormatMetadata
-    from qcodes.data.hdf5_format_hickle import HDF5FormatHickle
-    formatters += [HDF5FormatHickle(), HDF5FormatMetadata()]
+    formatters += [HDF5FormatMetadata()]
+    try:
+        from qcodes.data.hdf5_format_hickle import HDF5FormatHickle
+        formatters += [HDF5FormatHickle()]
+    except ImportError:
+        logging.info('hickle not available')
 
     from qcodes.data.hdf5_format import HDF5Format
     formatters += [HDF5Format()]