diff --git a/compiler/globals.py b/compiler/globals.py
index f19559e2..e67d4c4d 100644
--- a/compiler/globals.py
+++ b/compiler/globals.py
@@ -100,9 +100,18 @@ def check_versions():
     minor_required = 5
     if not (major_python_version == major_required and minor_python_version >= minor_required):
         debug.error("Python {0}.{1} or greater is required.".format(major_required,minor_required),-1)
-
+ 
     # FIXME: Check versions of other tools here??
     # or, this could be done in each module (e.g. verify, characterizer, etc.)
+    global OPTS
+
+    try:
+        import flask_table
+        OPTS.datasheet_gen = 1
+    except:
+        debug.warning("flask_table is not installed. HTML datasheet will not be generated")
+        OPTS.datasheet_gen = 0
+
 
 def init_openram(config_file, is_unit_test=True):
     """Initialize the technology, paths, simulators, etc."""
diff --git a/compiler/openram.py b/compiler/openram.py
index 6fc6ec71..2163ae5c 100755
--- a/compiler/openram.py
+++ b/compiler/openram.py
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ import verify
 from sram import sram
 from sram_config import sram_config
 #from parser import *
-output_extensions = ["sp","v","lib","html"]
+output_extensions = ["sp","v","lib"]
+if OPTS.datasheet_gen:
+    output_extensions.append("html")
 if not OPTS.netlist_only:
     output_extensions.extend(["gds","lef"])
 output_files = ["{0}.{1}".format(OPTS.output_name,x) for x in output_extensions]
diff --git a/compiler/sram.py b/compiler/sram.py
index 59b7d7e8..56c7d912 100644
--- a/compiler/sram.py
+++ b/compiler/sram.py
@@ -109,12 +109,13 @@ class sram():
             print_time("LEF", datetime.datetime.now(), start_time)
         
         # Write the datasheet
-        start_time = datetime.datetime.now()
-        from datasheet_gen import datasheet_gen
-        dname = OPTS.output_path + self.s.name + ".html"
-        print("Datasheet: writing to {0}".format(dname))
-        datasheet_gen.datasheet_write(dname)
-        print_time("Datasheet", datetime.datetime.now(), start_time)
+        if OPTS.datasheet_gen:
+            start_time = datetime.datetime.now()
+            from datasheet_gen import datasheet_gen
+            dname = OPTS.output_path + self.s.name + ".html"
+            print("Datasheet: writing to {0}".format(dname))
+            datasheet_gen.datasheet_write(dname)
+            print_time("Datasheet", datetime.datetime.now(), start_time)
 
         # Write a verilog model
         start_time = datetime.datetime.now()