diff --git a/ci/utils.py b/ci/utils.py
index 35cbf97a..70432a34 100644
--- a/ci/utils.py
+++ b/ci/utils.py
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 import subprocess
 from typing import List
 
-from github import Github
 from monai.apps.utils import download_url
 from monai.bundle.config_parser import ConfigParser
-from monai.utils import look_up_option
+from monai.utils import look_up_option, optional_import
+
+Github, _ = optional_import("github", name="Github")
 
 SUPPORTED_HASH_TYPES = {"md5": hashlib.md5, "sha1": hashlib.sha1, "sha256": hashlib.sha256, "sha512": hashlib.sha512}