diff --git a/doclang/schematron_validation.py b/doclang/schematron_validation.py
index 4a241f5..bacc741 100644
--- a/doclang/schematron_validation.py
+++ b/doclang/schematron_validation.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from typing import Union
 
 from lxml import etree
-from saxonche import PySaxonProcessor
 
 from doclang._schemas import _bundled_sch_path
 from doclang.utils import _ensure_namespace
@@ -117,6 +116,13 @@ def _transpile_schematron_to_xslt(sch_file, verbose=False):
     if verbose:
         print(f"Transpiling Schematron: {sch_file}")
 
+    try:
+        from saxonche import PySaxonProcessor
+    except ImportError:
+        raise ImportError(
+            "saxonche is required for Schematron validation. Install it with: pip install doclang[schematron]"
+        ) from None
+
     with PySaxonProcessor(license=False) as proc:
         xslt_proc = proc.new_xslt30_processor()
 
@@ -162,6 +168,13 @@ def _validate_with_schematron(
             tmp_xml_path = tmp.name
 
             # File is still open but flushed, Saxon can read it
+            try:
+                from saxonche import PySaxonProcessor
+            except ImportError:
+                raise ImportError(
+                    "saxonche is required for Schematron validation. Install it with: pip install doclang[schematron]"
+                ) from None
+
             with PySaxonProcessor(license=False) as proc:
                 if verbose:
                     print(f"Using XSLT processor version: {proc.version}")
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6c0c942..14aaebe 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -25,10 +25,12 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 dependencies = [
     "lxml>=6.0.2",
-    "saxonche>=12.9.0",
     "typer>=0.15.1",
 ]
 
+[project.optional-dependencies]
+schematron = ["saxonche>=12.9.0"]
+
 [project.urls]
 Homepage = "https://www.doclang.ai/"
 Documentation = "https://github.com/doclang-project/doclang/blob/main/README.md"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 55578d9..b8cf057 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -355,10 +355,14 @@ version = "0.7.0"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "lxml" },
-    { name = "saxonche" },
     { name = "typer" },
 ]
 
+[package.optional-dependencies]
+schematron = [
+    { name = "saxonche" },
+]
+
 [package.dev-dependencies]
 ci = [
     { name = "mypy" },
@@ -382,9 +386,10 @@ dev = [
 [package.metadata]
 requires-dist = [
     { name = "lxml", specifier = ">=6.0.2" },
-    { name = "saxonche", specifier = ">=12.9.0" },
+    { name = "saxonche", marker = "extra == 'schematron'", specifier = ">=12.9.0" },
     { name = "typer", specifier = ">=0.15.1" },
 ]
+provides-extras = ["schematron"]
 
 [package.metadata.requires-dev]
 ci = [