diff --git a/src/ipyaladin/widget.py b/src/ipyaladin/widget.py
index c909d655..5468b34c 100644
--- a/src/ipyaladin/widget.py
+++ b/src/ipyaladin/widget.py
@@ -308,12 +308,16 @@ def hips2fits(self, hips: str, output_file: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
             The name of the output FITS file. If None, the FITS file is not saved.
 
         """
-        from astroquery.hips2fits import hips2fits
+        try:
+            from astroquery.hips2fits import hips2fits
+        except ImportError as imp:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "To use the hips2fits method, you need to install the astroquery "
+                "library with 'pip install astroquery'."
+            ) from imp
 
         fits = hips2fits.query_with_wcs(
             hips=hips,
-            format="fits",
-            get_query_payload=False,
             wcs=self.wcs,
         )
         if output_file is not None: