diff --git a/pygmt/datasets/earth_day.py b/pygmt/datasets/earth_day.py
index 2e62d2a1b25..f95a26f7071 100644
--- a/pygmt/datasets/earth_day.py
+++ b/pygmt/datasets/earth_day.py
@@ -5,12 +5,17 @@
 The images are available in various resolutions.
 """
 
+import contextlib
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import Literal
 
 import xarray as xr
 from pygmt.datasets.load_remote_dataset import _load_remote_dataset
 
+with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
+    # rioxarray is needed to register the rio accessor
+    import rioxarray  # noqa: F401
+
 __doctest_skip__ = ["load_blue_marble"]
 
 
diff --git a/pygmt/datasets/earth_night.py b/pygmt/datasets/earth_night.py
index 37c426eee9a..39742c8124e 100644
--- a/pygmt/datasets/earth_night.py
+++ b/pygmt/datasets/earth_night.py
@@ -5,12 +5,17 @@
 The images are available in various resolutions.
 """
 
+import contextlib
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import Literal
 
 import xarray as xr
 from pygmt.datasets.load_remote_dataset import _load_remote_dataset
 
+with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
+    # rioxarray is needed to register the rio accessor
+    import rioxarray  # noqa: F401
+
 __doctest_skip__ = ["load_black_marble"]