diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index d3ca5280de..453038c8fc 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ import uuid
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion as Version
 import dateutil.parser
 import yaml
-import psutil
+try:
+    import psutil
+except:
+    psutil = None
 
 # Pexpect
 import pexpect
@@ -434,13 +437,16 @@ class BaseTask(Task):
             if instance.cancel_flag:
                 try:
                     if settings.AWX_PROOT_ENABLED:
-                        main_proc = psutil.Process(pid=child.pid)
-                        if hasattr(main_proc, "children"):
-                            child_procs = main_proc.children(recursive=False)
+                        if not psutil:
+                            os.kill(child.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
                         else:
-                            child_procs = main_proc.get_children(recursive=False)
-                        for child_proc in child_procs:
-                            os.kill(child_proc.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+                            main_proc = psutil.Process(pid=child.pid)
+                            if hasattr(main_proc, "children"):
+                                child_procs = main_proc.children(recursive=False)
+                            else:
+                                child_procs = main_proc.get_children(recursive=False)
+                            for child_proc in child_procs:
+                                os.kill(child_proc.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
                     else:
                         os.kill(child.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
                     time.sleep(3)