diff --git a/django_unicorn/typer.py b/django_unicorn/typer.py
index 6b58481f..5a128519 100644
--- a/django_unicorn/typer.py
+++ b/django_unicorn/typer.py
@@ -6,6 +6,17 @@
 from typing import get_type_hints as typing_get_type_hints
 from uuid import UUID
 
+try:
+    from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+    def _check_pydantic(cls) -> bool:
+        return issubclass(cls, BaseModel)
+except ImportError:
+
+    def _check_pydantic(cls) -> bool:  # noqa: ARG001
+        return False
+
+
 from django.db.models import Model, QuerySet
 from django.utils.dateparse import (
     parse_date,
@@ -13,7 +24,6 @@
     parse_duration,
     parse_time,
 )
-from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from django_unicorn.typing import QuerySetType
 
@@ -141,9 +151,10 @@ def cast_value(type_hint, value):
             if issubclass(type_hint, Model):
                 continue
 
-            if issubclass(type_hint, BaseModel) or is_dataclass(type_hint):
+            if _check_pydantic(type_hint) or is_dataclass(type_hint):
                 value = type_hint(**value)
                 break
+
             value = type_hint(value)
             break
 
diff --git a/tests/serializer/test_dumps.py b/tests/serializer/test_dumps.py
index 4f69b591..042a77f6 100644
--- a/tests/serializer/test_dumps.py
+++ b/tests/serializer/test_dumps.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import pytest
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.timezone import now
+from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from django_unicorn import serializer
 from django_unicorn.serializer import InvalidFieldAttributeError, InvalidFieldNameError
@@ -698,8 +699,6 @@ def test_nested_list_float_less_complicated():
 
 
 def test_pydantic():
-    from pydantic import BaseModel
-
     class Book(BaseModel):
         title = "The Grapes of Wrath"
         author = "John Steinbeck"
diff --git a/tests/test_typer.py b/tests/test_typer.py
index 4822d429..a7dbd044 100644
--- a/tests/test_typer.py
+++ b/tests/test_typer.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from dataclasses import dataclass
 import datetime
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import List, Optional
 from typing import get_type_hints as typing_get_type_hints
 
@@ -117,24 +117,24 @@ def test_cast_value_model_int():
 
 
 @dataclass
-class TestDataClass:
+class DataClass:
     name: str
 
 
-class PydanticDataClass(BaseModel):
+class PydanticBaseModel(BaseModel):
     name: str
 
 
 class AnotherExampleClass:
-    data: TestDataClass
-    list_data: List[TestDataClass]
-    pydantic_data: PydanticDataClass
-    pydantic_list_data: List[PydanticDataClass]
+    data: DataClass
+    list_data: List[DataClass]
+    pydantic_data: PydanticBaseModel
+    pydantic_list_data: List[PydanticBaseModel]
 
 
 def test_cast_value_dataclass():
     example_class = AnotherExampleClass()
-    test_data = TestDataClass(name="foo")
+    test_data = DataClass(name="foo")
     example_class.data = test_data
     type_hints = typing_get_type_hints(example_class)
     type_hint = type_hints["data"]
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def test_cast_value_dataclass():
 
 def test_cast_value_pydantic():
     example_class = AnotherExampleClass()
-    test_data = PydanticDataClass(name="foo")
+    test_data = PydanticBaseModel(name="foo")
     example_class.pydantic_data = test_data
     type_hints = typing_get_type_hints(example_class)
     type_hint = type_hints["pydantic_data"]
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def test_cast_value_pydantic():
 
 def test_cast_value_list_dataclass():
     example_class = AnotherExampleClass()
-    test_data = TestDataClass(name="foo")
+    test_data = DataClass(name="foo")
     example_class.pydantic_list_data = [test_data]
     type_hints = typing_get_type_hints(example_class)
     type_hint = type_hints["list_data"]
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def test_cast_value_list_dataclass():
 
 def test_cast_value_list_pydantic():
     example_class = AnotherExampleClass()
-    test_data = PydanticDataClass(name="foo")
+    test_data = PydanticBaseModel(name="foo")
     example_class.pydantic_list_data = [test_data]
     type_hints = typing_get_type_hints(example_class)
     type_hint = type_hints["pydantic_list_data"]