diff --git a/lale/lib/aif360/_mystic_util.py b/lale/lib/aif360/_mystic_util.py
index 6a1e3131c..af10152b9 100644
--- a/lale/lib/aif360/_mystic_util.py
+++ b/lale/lib/aif360/_mystic_util.py
@@ -1,9 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright 2023 IBM Corporation
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
 from typing import Dict, Set
 
 import numpy as np
-from mystic.coupler import and_
-from mystic.penalty import quadratic_equality
-from mystic.solvers import diffev2
+
+try:
+    from mystic.coupler import and_
+    from mystic.penalty import quadratic_equality
+    from mystic.solvers import diffev2
+
+    mystic_installed = True
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    mystic_installed = False
+
+
+def _assert_mystic_installed():
+    assert mystic_installed, """Your Python environment does not have mystic installed. You can install it with
+    pip install mystic
+or with
+    pip install 'lale[fairness]'"""
 
 
 def parse_solver_soln(n_flat, group_mapping):
@@ -122,6 +149,8 @@ def obtain_solver_info(
 
 
 def construct_ci_penalty(A, C, n_ci, i):
+    _assert_mystic_installed()
+
     def condition(x):
         reshape_list = []
         for _ in range(A):
@@ -153,6 +182,8 @@ def create_ci_penalties(n_ci, n_di):
 
 
 def construct_di_penalty(A, C, n_di, F, i):
+    _assert_mystic_installed()
+
     def condition(x):
         reshape_list = []
         for _ in range(A):
@@ -201,6 +232,7 @@ def create_di_penalties(n_ci, n_di, F):
 
 
 def calc_oversample_soln(o_flat, F, n_ci, n_di):
+    _assert_mystic_installed()
     # integer constraint
     ints = np.round
 
@@ -235,6 +267,7 @@ def cost(x):
 
 
 def calc_undersample_soln(o_flat, F, n_ci, n_di):
+    _assert_mystic_installed()
     # integer constraint
     ints = np.round
 
@@ -269,6 +302,7 @@ def cost(x):
 
 
 def calc_mixedsample_soln(o_flat, F, n_ci, n_di):
+    _assert_mystic_installed()
     # integer constraint
     ints = np.round
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index af66feed4..32f76c578 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
         "lightgbm<4.0.0",
         "snapml>=1.7.0rc3,<1.12.0",
         "liac-arff>=2.4.0",
-        "tensorflow>=2.4.0",
+        "tensorflow>=2.4.0,<=2.13.0",
         "smac<=0.10.0",
         "numba",
         "aif360>=0.4.0",