diff --git a/gen_config.py b/gen_config.py
index c3ff0a2b5b8269ab7aca76c5d359757f631401ed..70586e0daa9fe02231d6dd43e117b377aaeaa57d 100755
--- a/gen_config.py
+++ b/gen_config.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import sys
 import argparse
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 import json
-import mpildap
 
 def err(msg):
     print('ERROR: '+msg, file=sys.stderr)
@@ -15,7 +14,17 @@ def warn(msg):
 def info(msg):
     print(msg)
 
+try:
+    import mpildap
+    mpildap_available = True
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    warn('mpildap module not available, email normalization will be skipped')
+    mpildap_available = False
+    pass
+
 def normalize_email(email):
+    if not mpildap_available:
+        return email
     lp, domain = email.split('@')
     ldap_mail = mpildap.ldaps(f'&(istEmailName={lp})(istMailDomainReceive={domain})', 'mail', unique=True)
     if ldap_mail: