diff --git a/freqtrade/strategy/resolver.py b/freqtrade/strategy/resolver.py
index 928a36a43..6df763a67 100644
--- a/freqtrade/strategy/resolver.py
+++ b/freqtrade/strategy/resolver.py
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ from typing import Optional, Dict, Type
 
 from freqtrade import constants
 from freqtrade.strategy.interface import IStrategy
-import validators
 import tempfile
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
-from urllib.request import urlretrieve
 import os
+import requests
 from pathlib import Path
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -82,13 +81,24 @@ class StrategyResolver(object):
             # Add extra strategy directory on top of search paths
             abs_paths.insert(0, extra_dir)
 
-        if validators.url(strategy_name):
-            temp = tempfile.mkdtemp("freq", "strategy")
-            abs_paths.insert(0, temp)
-            name = os.path.basename(urlparse(strategy_name).path)
-            urlretrieve(strategy_name, os.path.join(temp, name))
-            Path(os.path.join(temp, "__init__.py")).touch()
-            strategy_name = os.path.splitext(name)[0]
+        try:
+            # check if given strategy matches an url
+            logger.debug("requesting remote strategy from {}".format(strategy_name))
+            resp = requests.get(strategy_name, stream=True)
+            if resp.status_code == 200:
+                temp = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp("freq", "strategy"))
+                name = os.path.basename(urlparse(strategy_name).path)
+
+                temp.joinpath(name).write_text(resp.text)
+                temp.joinpath("__init__.py").touch()
+
+                strategy_name = os.path.splitext(name)[0]
+
+                # register temp path with the bot
+                abs_paths.insert(0, temp.absolute())
+
+        except requests.RequestException:
+            logger.debug("received error trying to fetch strategy remotely, carry on!")
 
         for path in abs_paths:
             strategy = self._search_strategy(path, strategy_name)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 887624cb6..4aa22fcd1 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -23,6 +23,3 @@ coinmarketcap==4.2.1
 
 # Required for plotting data
 #plotly==2.3.0
-
-# Required for dynamic strategy loading from urls
-validators
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 856a47181..62a75eba9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ setup(name='freqtrade',
           'TA-Lib',
           'tabulate',
           'cachetools',
-          'coinmarketcap',
+          'coinmarketcap'
       ],
       include_package_data=True,
       zip_safe=False,