diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index 6eb3a27..c0b4ba1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 CHANGELOG
 =========
 
+0.5.4
+-----
+
+* Only enable pytest plugin when parasolr is in Django installed apps
+  and a Solr connection is configured
+
 0.5.3
 ---
 
diff --git a/parasolr/pytest_plugin.py b/parasolr/pytest_plugin.py
index 148d6a4..7c3ae36 100644
--- a/parasolr/pytest_plugin.py
+++ b/parasolr/pytest_plugin.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 try:
     import django
+    from django.apps import apps
     from django.conf import settings
     from django.test import override_settings
 except ImportError:
@@ -25,7 +26,16 @@ def get_test_solr_config():
         options specified are used; if no test collection name
         is specified, generates one based on the configured collection.'''
 
-        # copy default config for basic connection optiosn (e.g. url)
+        # skip if parasolr is not actually in django installed apps
+        if not apps.is_installed("parasolr"):
+            return
+
+        # if no solr connection is configured, bail out
+        if not getattr(settings, 'SOLR_CONNECTIONS', None):
+            logger.warn('No Solr configuration found')
+            return
+
+        # copy default config for basic connection options (e.g. url)
         test_config = settings.SOLR_CONNECTIONS['default'].copy()
 
         # use test settings as primary: anything in test settings
@@ -67,6 +77,8 @@ def configure_django_test_solr():
         """
 
         solr_config_opts = get_test_solr_config()
+        if not solr_config_opts:
+            return
 
         logger.info('Configuring Solr for tests %(URL)s%(COLLECTION)s',
                     solr_config_opts)
diff --git a/parasolr/tests/test_pytest_plugin.py b/parasolr/tests/test_pytest_plugin.py
index a060b15..3ccd789 100644
--- a/parasolr/tests/test_pytest_plugin.py
+++ b/parasolr/tests/test_pytest_plugin.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Test pytest plugin fixture for django
 """
-import uuid
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
 try:
@@ -93,6 +93,34 @@ def test_solr_client():
 
     # run all tests with pytest with all pytest-django plugins turned off
     # result = testdir.runpytest('-p', 'no:django')
-    result = testdir.runpytest_subprocess('--capture', 'no') #, '-p', 'no:django')
+    result = testdir.runpytest_subprocess('--capture', 'no')
     # check that test case passed
     result.assert_outcomes(passed=1)
+
+
+@skipif_no_django
+def test_not_configured(testdir):
+    """skip without error if not configured."""
+
+    with override_settings(SOLR_CONNECTIONS=None):
+        assert not get_test_solr_config()
+
+        # create a temporary pytest test file with no solr use
+        testdir.makepyfile("""
+        def test_unrelated():
+            assert 1 + 1 == 2
+        """)
+        # run all tests with pytest with all pytest-django plugins turned off
+        result = testdir.runpytest_subprocess('--capture', 'no')
+        # check that test case passed
+        result.assert_outcomes(passed=1)
+
+
+@skipif_no_django
+def test_app_not_installed(testdir):
+    """skip without error if not configured."""
+
+    with patch('parasolr.pytest_plugin.apps') as mockapps:
+        mockapps.is_installed.return_value = False
+        assert not get_test_solr_config()
+        mockapps.is_installed.assert_called_with('parasolr')