diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/lib/__init__.py b/src/ocrmypdf/lib/__init__.py
index 13d09e45..913a32fd 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/lib/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/lib/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,12 @@
 
 """Bindings to external libraries"""
 
+import os as _os
+
 try:
     import fitz
 except ImportError:
+    fitz = None
+
+if _os.environ.get('_OCRMYPDF_NO_FITZ'):
     fitz = None
\ No newline at end of file