diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 814e30e01..696a88ad0 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ ver 0.24.1 (not yet released)
   - sndio: fix rounding error in volume calculation
 * log: include year in time stamp
 * fix build failure in the "id3tag" Meson subproject
+* doc: use "sphinx_rtd_theme" only if it is installed
 
 ver 0.24 (2025/03/11)
 * protocol
diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index aa82a9545..d575143ea 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ todo_include_todos = False
 #
 html_theme = 'sphinx_rtd_theme'
 
+try:
+    __import__(html_theme)
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    import sys
+    print(f"Warning: Sphinx theme {html_theme!r} not available, falling back to the default theme", file=sys.stderr)
+    del html_theme
+
 # Theme options are theme-specific and customize the look and feel of a theme
 # further.  For a list of options available for each theme, see the
 # documentation.