diff --git a/lib/rails/observers/railtie.rb b/lib/rails/observers/railtie.rb
index f71efd5..66aee9a 100644
--- a/lib/rails/observers/railtie.rb
+++ b/lib/rails/observers/railtie.rb
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ class Railtie < ::Rails::Railtie
           # which calls `instantiate_observers` to instantiate a `UserObserver`
           # which eventually calls `observed_class` thus constantizing `"User"`,
           # the class we're loading. 💣💥
-          require "active_record"
-          require "active_record/base"
+          require "active_record/base" if defined?(ActiveRecord)
         rescue LoadError
         end