diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
index f451c68b8..ac5cda4d0 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import gzip
 import json
-import ujson
 import logging
 import os
 from typing import Optional, List, Dict, Tuple, Any
@@ -12,6 +11,11 @@ from freqtrade import misc, constants, OperationalException
 from freqtrade.exchange import Exchange
 from freqtrade.arguments import TimeRange
 
+import importlib
+ujson_found = importlib.util.find_spec("ujson")
+if ujson_found is not None:
+    import ujson
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -68,7 +72,10 @@ def load_tickerdata_file(
     elif os.path.isfile(file):
         logger.debug('Loading ticker data from file %s', file)
         with open(file) as tickerdata:
-            pairdata = ujson.load(tickerdata)
+            if ujson_found is not None:
+                pairdata = ujson.load(tickerdata)
+            else:
+                pairdata = json.load(tickerdata)
     else:
         return None
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index d118f3be4..948c2a1c5 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ pytest-mock==1.10.0
 pytest-cov==2.5.1
 tabulate==0.8.2
 coinmarketcap==5.0.3
-ujson==1.35
+
+# Optional, speeds up ticker load
+# Requires visual studio in windows.
+#ujson==1.35
 
 # Required for hyperopt
 scikit-optimize==0.5.2