diff --git a/findrefs/__init__.py b/findrefs/__init__.py
index 190dba9..2f18619 100644
--- a/findrefs/__init__.py
+++ b/findrefs/__init__.py
@@ -31,5 +31,7 @@ def __getattr__(name):
 
 
 if _check_instance_setup():
+    import lamindb
+
     del __getattr__  # delete so that imports work out
     from .models import Reference