diff --git a/tools/python/test/test_matrix.py b/tools/python/test/test_matrix.py
index a010a13f7..cdd9bed13 100644
--- a/tools/python/test/test_matrix.py
+++ b/tools/python/test/test_matrix.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ from pytest import raises
 
 try:
     import numpy
+    have_numpy = True
 except ImportError:
-    # Just skip these tests if numpy isn't installed
-    exit(0)
+    have_numpy = False 
 
 
 def test_matrix_empty_init():
@@ -57,23 +57,24 @@ def test_matrix_from_list_as_column_vector():
     assert str(m) == "0 \n1 \n2"
 
 
-def test_matrix_from_object_with_2d_shape():
-    m1 = numpy.array([[0, 1, 2],
-                      [3, 4, 5],
-                      [6, 7, 8]])
-    m = matrix(m1)
-    assert m.nr() == 3
-    assert m.nc() == 3
-    assert m.shape == (3, 3)
-    assert len(m) == 3
-    assert repr(m) == "< dlib.matrix containing: \n0 1 2 \n3 4 5 \n6 7 8 >"
-    assert str(m) == "0 1 2 \n3 4 5 \n6 7 8"
+if have_numpy:
+    def test_matrix_from_object_with_2d_shape():
+        m1 = numpy.array([[0, 1, 2],
+                        [3, 4, 5],
+                        [6, 7, 8]])
+        m = matrix(m1)
+        assert m.nr() == 3
+        assert m.nc() == 3
+        assert m.shape == (3, 3)
+        assert len(m) == 3
+        assert repr(m) == "< dlib.matrix containing: \n0 1 2 \n3 4 5 \n6 7 8 >"
+        assert str(m) == "0 1 2 \n3 4 5 \n6 7 8"
 
 
-def test_matrix_from_object_without_2d_shape():
-    with raises(IndexError):
-        m1 = numpy.array([0, 1, 2])
-        matrix(m1)
+    def test_matrix_from_object_without_2d_shape():
+        with raises(IndexError):
+            m1 = numpy.array([0, 1, 2])
+            matrix(m1)
 
 
 def test_matrix_from_object_without_shape():