diff --git a/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.cpp b/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.cpp
index d9d7b2af5e..8038ca713a 100644
--- a/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.cpp
+++ b/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.cpp
@@ -18,16 +18,32 @@ namespace Avogadro::QtPlugins {
 
 ImportPQR::ImportPQR(QObject* parent_)
   : ExtensionPlugin(parent_), m_action(new QAction(this)), m_molecule(nullptr),
-    m_dialog(nullptr), m_outputFormat(nullptr)
+    m_dialog(nullptr), m_outputFormat(nullptr),
+    m_manager(new QNetworkAccessManager(this))
 {
-  m_action->setEnabled(true);
+  m_action->setEnabled(false);
   m_action->setText(tr("&Search PQR…"));
   connect(m_action, SIGNAL(triggered()), SLOT(menuActivated()));
+
+  // check if PQR is up
+  connect(m_manager, SIGNAL(finished(QNetworkReply*)),
+          SLOT(checkAccess(QNetworkReply*)));
+  m_manager->get(QNetworkRequest(QUrl("https://pqr.pitt.edu")));
 }
 
 ImportPQR::~ImportPQR()
 {
   delete m_outputFormat;
+  m_manager->deleteLater();
+}
+
+void ImportPQR::checkAccess(QNetworkReply* reply)
+{
+  // only enable if we can access the site
+  if (reply->error() == QNetworkReply::NoError) {
+    m_action->setEnabled(true);
+  }
+  reply->deleteLater();
 }
 
 QList<QAction*> ImportPQR::actions() const
@@ -77,4 +93,4 @@ void ImportPQR::setMoleculeData(QByteArray& molData, QString name)
   m_dialog->hide();
   emit moleculeReady(1);
 }
-} // namespace Avogadro
+} // namespace Avogadro::QtPlugins
diff --git a/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.h b/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.h
index 06a8fcc07c..ac52577e31 100644
--- a/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.h
+++ b/avogadro/qtplugins/importpqr/importpqr.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <avogadro/io/fileformatmanager.h>
 #include <avogadro/qtgui/extensionplugin.h>
 
+#include <QtNetwork/QNetworkAccessManager>
 #include <QtNetwork/QNetworkReply>
 
 #include <QtCore/QString>
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ public slots:
 
 private slots:
   void menuActivated();
+  void checkAccess(QNetworkReply* reply);
 
 private:
   QAction* m_action;
@@ -59,8 +61,9 @@ private slots:
   QString m_moleculeName;
   QString m_moleculePath;
   QByteArray m_moleculeData;
+  QNetworkAccessManager* m_manager;
 };
-}
-}
+} // namespace QtPlugins
+} // namespace Avogadro
 
 #endif // AVOGADRO_QTPLUGINS_IMPORTPQR_H