diff --git a/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/__init__.py b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5551b736c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .hip import *
diff --git a/kernel_tuner/backends/hip.py b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/hip.py
similarity index 96%
rename from kernel_tuner/backends/hip.py
rename to kernel_tuner/backends/hip/hip.py
index 368ba61f2..c4f404919 100644
--- a/kernel_tuner/backends/hip.py
+++ b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/hip.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from kernel_tuner.backends.backend import GPUBackend
 from kernel_tuner.observers.hip import HipRuntimeObserver
+from kernel_tuner.backends.hip.util import hip_check
 
 try:
     from hip import hip, hiprtc
@@ -31,20 +32,6 @@
 
 hipSuccess = 0
 
-
-def hip_check(call_result):
-    """helper function to check return values of hip calls"""
-    err = call_result[0]
-    result = call_result[1:]
-    if len(result) == 1:
-        result = result[0]
-    if isinstance(err, hip.hipError_t) and err != hip.hipError_t.hipSuccess:
-        _, error_name = hip.hipGetErrorName(err)
-        _, error_str = hip.hipGetErrorString(err)
-        raise RuntimeError(f"{error_name}: {error_str}")
-    return result
-
-
 class HipFunctions(GPUBackend):
     """Class that groups the HIP functions on maintains state about the device."""
 
diff --git a/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/util.py b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fea72f540
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel_tuner/backends/hip/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+try:
+    from hip import hip, hiprtc
+except (ImportError, RuntimeError):
+    hip = None
+
+
+def hip_check(call_result):
+    """helper function to check return values of hip calls"""
+    err = call_result[0]
+    result = call_result[1:]
+    if len(result) == 1:
+        result = result[0]
+    if isinstance(err, hip.hipError_t) and err != hip.hipError_t.hipSuccess:
+        _, error_name = hip.hipGetErrorName(err)
+        _, error_str = hip.hipGetErrorString(err)
+        raise RuntimeError(f"{error_name}: {error_str}")
+    return result
+
diff --git a/kernel_tuner/observers/hip.py b/kernel_tuner/observers/hip.py
index c536cf965..5e27fb1b5 100644
--- a/kernel_tuner/observers/hip.py
+++ b/kernel_tuner/observers/hip.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from kernel_tuner.observers.observer import BenchmarkObserver
+from kernel_tuner.backends.hip.util import hip_check
 
 try:
     from hip import hip, hiprtc
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ def __init__(self, dev):
 
     def after_finish(self):
         # Time is measured in milliseconds
-        EventElapsedTime = hip.hipEventElapsedTime(self.start, self.end)
+        EventElapsedTime = hip_check(hip.hipEventElapsedTime(self.start, self.end))
         self.times.append(EventElapsedTime)
 
     def get_results(self):