diff --git a/py25/bacpypes/consolecmd.py b/py25/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
index 5fb5be3..70d9c65 100755
--- a/py25/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
+++ b/py25/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import sys
 import types
 import os
 import gc
-import readline
 import signal
 import cmd
 import logging
@@ -20,6 +19,12 @@ from .consolelogging import ConsoleLogHandler
 
 from . import core
 
+# readline is used for history files
+try:
+    import readline
+except ImportError:
+    readline = None
+
 # some debugging
 _debug = 0
 _log = ModuleLogger(globals())
@@ -263,7 +268,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         cmd.Cmd.preloop(self)   ## sets up command completion
 
         try:
-            readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception, err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)
@@ -273,7 +279,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         Despite the claims in the Cmd documentaion, Cmd.postloop() is not a stub.
         """
         try:
-            readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0]+".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception, err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)
diff --git a/py27/bacpypes/consolecmd.py b/py27/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
index 826794b..27caf51 100755
--- a/py27/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
+++ b/py27/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import sys
 import types
 import os
 import gc
-import readline
 import signal
 import cmd
 import logging
@@ -20,6 +19,12 @@ from .consolelogging import ConsoleLogHandler
 
 from . import core
 
+# readline is used for history files
+try:
+    import readline
+except ImportError:
+    readline = None
+
 # some debugging
 _debug = 0
 _log = ModuleLogger(globals())
@@ -265,7 +270,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         cmd.Cmd.preloop(self)   ## sets up command completion
 
         try:
-            readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception as err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)
@@ -275,7 +281,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         Despite the claims in the Cmd documentaion, Cmd.postloop() is not a stub.
         """
         try:
-            readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0]+".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception as err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)
diff --git a/py34/bacpypes/consolecmd.py b/py34/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
index f348d30..a280778 100755
--- a/py34/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
+++ b/py34/bacpypes/consolecmd.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import sys
 import types
 import os
 import gc
-import readline
 import signal
 import cmd
 import logging
@@ -20,6 +19,12 @@ from .consolelogging import ConsoleLogHandler
 
 from . import core
 
+# readline is used for history files
+try:
+    import readline
+except ImportError:
+    readline = None
+
 # some debugging
 _debug = 0
 _log = ModuleLogger(globals())
@@ -266,7 +271,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         cmd.Cmd.preloop(self)   ## sets up command completion
 
         try:
-            readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.read_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception as err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)
@@ -276,7 +282,8 @@ class ConsoleCmd(cmd.Cmd, Thread, Logging):
         Despite the claims in the Cmd documentaion, Cmd.postloop() is not a stub.
         """
         try:
-            readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0]+".history")
+            if readline:
+                readline.write_history_file(sys.argv[0] + ".history")
         except Exception as err:
             if not isinstance(err, IOError):
                 self.stdout.write("history error: %s\n" % err)