diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 21498697..cf634f4f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,21 +13,12 @@
     long_description = f.read()
 
 # Minimal requried dependencies (full dependencies in requirements.txt)
-install_requires = ['cloudpickle', 
-                    'pyyaml',
-                    'opencv-python',
-                    'colored',
-                    'mpi4py',
-                    'numpy', 
+install_requires = ['numpy', 
                     'scipy', 
-                    'matplotlib', 
-                    'seaborn',
-                    'scikit-image', 
-                    'scikit-learn', 
-                    'imageio',
-                    'pandas',
                     'gym', 
-                    'cma']
+                    'cloudpickle', 
+                    'pyyaml', 
+                    'colored']
 tests_require = ['pytest', 
                  'flake8', 
                  'sphinx', 
@@ -53,3 +44,19 @@
                    'Natural Language :: English', 
                    'Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Artificial Intelligence']
 )
+
+
+# ensure PyTorch is installed
+import pkg_resources
+pkg = None
+for name in ['torch', 'torch-nightly']:
+    try:
+        pkg = pkg_resources.get_distribution(name)
+    except pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound:
+        pass
+assert pkg is not None, 'PyTorch is not correctly installed.'
+
+from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+import re
+version_msg = 'PyTorch of version above 1.0.0 expected'
+assert LooseVersion(re.search(r'\d+[.]\d+[.]\d+', pkg.version)[0]) >= LooseVersion('1.0.0'), version_msg