diff --git a/tractor/devx/_debug.py b/tractor/devx/_debug.py
index 1b22505..3bef7bd 100644
--- a/tractor/devx/_debug.py
+++ b/tractor/devx/_debug.py
@@ -836,22 +836,25 @@ async def pause(
 # runtime aware version which takes care of all .
 def pause_from_sync() -> None:
     print("ENTER SYNC PAUSE")
-    import greenback
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    try:
+        import greenback
+        __tracebackhide__ = True
 
-    actor: tractor.Actor = tractor.current_actor()
-    # task_can_release_tty_lock = trio.Event()
+        actor: tractor.Actor = tractor.current_actor()
+        # task_can_release_tty_lock = trio.Event()
 
-    # spawn bg task which will lock out the TTY, we poll
-    # just below until the release event is reporting that task as
-    # waiting.. not the most ideal but works for now ;)
-    greenback.await_(
-        actor._service_n.start(partial(
-            pause,
-            debug_func=None,
-            # release_lock_signal=task_can_release_tty_lock,
-        ))
-    )
+        # spawn bg task which will lock out the TTY, we poll
+        # just below until the release event is reporting that task as
+        # waiting.. not the most ideal but works for now ;)
+        greenback.await_(
+            actor._service_n.start(partial(
+                pause,
+                debug_func=None,
+                # release_lock_signal=task_can_release_tty_lock,
+            ))
+        )
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        log.warning('NO GREENBACK FOUND')
 
     db, undo_sigint = mk_mpdb()
     Lock.local_task_in_debug = 'sync'