diff --git a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/augeas_configurator.py b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/augeas_configurator.py
index 12753541c..6999120d6 100644
--- a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/augeas_configurator.py
+++ b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/augeas_configurator.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """Class of Augeas Configurators."""
 import logging
 
-import augeas
 
 from certbot import errors
 from certbot import reverter
@@ -29,12 +28,9 @@ class AugeasConfigurator(common.Plugin):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(AugeasConfigurator, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        self.aug = augeas.Augeas(
-            # specify a directory to load our preferred lens from
-            loadpath=constants.AUGEAS_LENS_DIR,
-            # Do not save backup (we do it ourselves), do not load
-            # anything by default
-            flags=(augeas.Augeas.NONE | augeas.Augeas.NO_MODL_AUTOLOAD))
+        # Placeholder for augeas
+        self.aug = None
+
         self.save_notes = ""
 
         # See if any temporary changes need to be recovered
@@ -42,6 +38,16 @@ class AugeasConfigurator(common.Plugin):
         # because this will change the underlying configuration and potential
         # vhosts
         self.reverter = reverter.Reverter(self.config)
+
+    def init_augeas(self):
+        """ Initialize the actual Augeas instance """
+        import augeas
+        self.aug = augeas.Augeas(
+            # specify a directory to load our preferred lens from
+            loadpath=constants.AUGEAS_LENS_DIR,
+            # Do not save backup (we do it ourselves), do not load
+            # anything by default
+            flags=(augeas.Augeas.NONE | augeas.Augeas.NO_MODL_AUTOLOAD))
         self.recovery_routine()
 
     def check_parsing_errors(self, lens):
diff --git a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/configurator.py b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/configurator.py
index e4c06ba7e..9caa4a764 100644
--- a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/configurator.py
+++ b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/configurator.py
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@ class ApacheConfigurator(augeas_configurator.AugeasConfigurator):
         :raises .errors.PluginError: If there is any other error
 
         """
+        # Perform the actual Augeas initialization to be able to react
+        try:
+            self.init_augeas()
+        except ImportError:
+            raise errors.NoInstallationError("Problem in Augeas installation")
+
         # Verify Apache is installed
         if not util.exe_exists(constants.os_constant("restart_cmd")[0]):
             raise errors.NoInstallationError
diff --git a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/tests/configurator_test.py b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/tests/configurator_test.py
index a2e39de47..e5c09fd1d 100644
--- a/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/tests/configurator_test.py
+++ b/certbot-apache/certbot_apache/tests/configurator_test.py
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ class MultipleVhostsTest(util.ApacheTest):
         self.assertRaises(
             errors.NoInstallationError, self.config.prepare)
 
+    @mock.patch("certbot_apache.augeas_configurator.AugeasConfigurator.init_augeas")
+    def test_prepare_no_augeas(self, mock_init_augeas):
+        """ Test augeas initialization ImportError """
+        def side_effect_error():
+            """ Side effect error for the test """
+            raise ImportError
+        mock_init_augeas.side_effect = side_effect_error
+        self.assertRaises(
+            errors.NoInstallationError, self.config.prepare)
+
     @mock.patch("certbot_apache.parser.ApacheParser")
     @mock.patch("certbot_apache.configurator.util.exe_exists")
     def test_prepare_version(self, mock_exe_exists, _):