diff --git a/material/plugins/social/__init__.py b/material/plugins/social/__init__.py
index e61266112..d18993785 100644
--- a/material/plugins/social/__init__.py
+++ b/material/plugins/social/__init__.py
@@ -17,22 +17,3 @@
 # LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
 # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS
 # IN THE SOFTWARE.
-
-import logging
-import sys
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Checks
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-# Check for pillow and cairosvg
-try:
-    import cairosvg as _
-    import PIL as _
-except ImportError:
-    log = logging.getLogger("mkdocs.material.social")
-    log.error(
-        "Required dependencies of \"social\" plugin not found. "
-        "Install with: pip install pillow cairosvg"
-    )
-    sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/material/plugins/social/plugin.py b/material/plugins/social/plugin.py
index 011992b81..5c550c7d6 100644
--- a/material/plugins/social/plugin.py
+++ b/material/plugins/social/plugin.py
@@ -40,19 +40,24 @@ import re
 import requests
 import sys
 
-from cairosvg import svg2png
 from collections import defaultdict
 from hashlib import md5
 from io import BytesIO
 from mkdocs.commands.build import DuplicateFilter
+from mkdocs.exceptions import PluginError
 from mkdocs.plugins import BasePlugin
-from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 from shutil import copyfile
 from tempfile import TemporaryFile
 from zipfile import ZipFile
+try:
+    from cairosvg import svg2png
+    from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from .config import SocialConfig
 
+
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -66,9 +71,17 @@ class SocialPlugin(BasePlugin[SocialConfig]):
     # Retrieve configuration
     def on_config(self, config):
         self.color = colors.get("indigo")
+        self.config.cards = self.config.enabled
         if not self.config.cards:
             return
 
+        # Check dependencies
+        if "Image" not in globals():
+            raise PluginError(
+                "Required dependencies of \"social\" plugin not found. "
+                "Install with: pip install pillow cairosvg"
+            )
+
         # Move color options
         if self.config.cards_color:
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/social/__init__.py b/src/plugins/social/__init__.py
index e61266112..d18993785 100644
--- a/src/plugins/social/__init__.py
+++ b/src/plugins/social/__init__.py
@@ -17,22 +17,3 @@
 # LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
 # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS
 # IN THE SOFTWARE.
-
-import logging
-import sys
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Checks
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-# Check for pillow and cairosvg
-try:
-    import cairosvg as _
-    import PIL as _
-except ImportError:
-    log = logging.getLogger("mkdocs.material.social")
-    log.error(
-        "Required dependencies of \"social\" plugin not found. "
-        "Install with: pip install pillow cairosvg"
-    )
-    sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/src/plugins/social/plugin.py b/src/plugins/social/plugin.py
index 011992b81..5c550c7d6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/social/plugin.py
+++ b/src/plugins/social/plugin.py
@@ -40,19 +40,24 @@ import re
 import requests
 import sys
 
-from cairosvg import svg2png
 from collections import defaultdict
 from hashlib import md5
 from io import BytesIO
 from mkdocs.commands.build import DuplicateFilter
+from mkdocs.exceptions import PluginError
 from mkdocs.plugins import BasePlugin
-from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 from shutil import copyfile
 from tempfile import TemporaryFile
 from zipfile import ZipFile
+try:
+    from cairosvg import svg2png
+    from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 from .config import SocialConfig
 
+
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -66,9 +71,17 @@ class SocialPlugin(BasePlugin[SocialConfig]):
     # Retrieve configuration
     def on_config(self, config):
         self.color = colors.get("indigo")
+        self.config.cards = self.config.enabled
         if not self.config.cards:
             return
 
+        # Check dependencies
+        if "Image" not in globals():
+            raise PluginError(
+                "Required dependencies of \"social\" plugin not found. "
+                "Install with: pip install pillow cairosvg"
+            )
+
         # Move color options
         if self.config.cards_color: