diff --git a/analysis/clustering.py b/analysis/clustering.py
index 92d35fb..f023871 100644
--- a/analysis/clustering.py
+++ b/analysis/clustering.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@ import logging
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import numpy as np
-import duckdb
+
+try:
+    import duckdb
+except (
+    Exception
+):  # pragma: no cover - import-time guard for environments without duckdb
+    duckdb = None  # type: ignore
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/analysis/explorer_data.py b/analysis/explorer_data.py
index 7e81505..1ecdab4 100644
--- a/analysis/explorer_data.py
+++ b/analysis/explorer_data.py
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import logging
 from typing import Dict, List, Set, Tuple
 
-import duckdb
+try:
+    import duckdb
+except (
+    Exception
+):  # pragma: no cover - allow lightweight import without duckdb installed
+    duckdb = None  # type: ignore
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 
diff --git a/analysis/political_axis.py b/analysis/political_axis.py
index 3b62608..01719f7 100644
--- a/analysis/political_axis.py
+++ b/analysis/political_axis.py
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import numpy as np
 from . import trajectory as _trajectory
-import duckdb
+
+try:
+    import duckdb
+except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - allow importing module in lightweight test envs
+    duckdb = None  # type: ignore
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/analysis/trajectory.py b/analysis/trajectory.py
index ee0b5e7..e343c1b 100644
--- a/analysis/trajectory.py
+++ b/analysis/trajectory.py
@@ -15,7 +15,13 @@ from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
-import duckdb
+
+try:
+    import duckdb
+except (
+    Exception
+):  # pragma: no cover - import-time guard for environments without duckdb
+    duckdb = None  # type: ignore
 
 try:
     from scipy.linalg import orthogonal_procrustes as _scipy_procrustes