diff --git a/src/gt4py/next/program_processors/runners/dace_iterator/__init__.py b/src/gt4py/next/program_processors/runners/dace_iterator/__init__.py
index 47d8185e44..a124f3a9c4 100644
--- a/src/gt4py/next/program_processors/runners/dace_iterator/__init__.py
+++ b/src/gt4py/next/program_processors/runners/dace_iterator/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 except ModuleNotFoundError:
     import sys
 
+    if "pytest" in sys.modules:
+        raise
     print("Error, module dace not found", file=sys.stderr)
     exit()
 
diff --git a/tests/next_tests/unit_tests/conftest.py b/tests/next_tests/unit_tests/conftest.py
index a4157b31eb..2094c285c0 100644
--- a/tests/next_tests/unit_tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/next_tests/unit_tests/conftest.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 import pytest
@@ -27,12 +28,18 @@
 
 
 try:
+    import dace
+
+    # import dace_iterator only if dace is available
     from gt4py.next.program_processors.runners import dace_iterator
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
     if "dace" in str(e):
         dace_iterator = None
     else:
         raise e
+finally:
+    if dace_iterator:
+        del dace
 
 import next_tests