diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt
index 3d96266de1..10e9d29091 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
 mcl_sounds
+mcl_core?
+mclx_core?
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
index dd42b7bf7b..14e00726eb 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
@@ -108,29 +108,32 @@ minetest.register_node("mcl_sponges:sponge_wet", {
 	_mcl_hardness = 0.6,
 })
 
-minetest.register_node("mcl_sponges:sponge_wet_river_water", {
-	description = "Riverwaterlogged Sponge",
-	_doc_items_longdesc = "A sponge full of river water. It can be dried in the furnace to turn it into (dry) sponge. When there's an empty bucket in the fuel slot of the furnace, the river water will pour into the bucket.",
-	drawtype = "normal",
-	is_ground_content = false,
-	tiles = {"mcl_sponges_sponge_wet_river_water.png"},
-	walkable = true,
-	pointable = true,
-	diggable = true,
-	buildable_to = false,
-	stack_max = 64,
-	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_dirt_defaults(),
-	groups = {handy=1, building_block=1},
-	_mcl_blast_resistance = 3,
-	_mcl_hardness = 0.6,
-})
+if minetest.get_modpath("mclx_core") then
+	minetest.register_node("mcl_sponges:sponge_wet_river_water", {
+		description = "Riverwaterlogged Sponge",
+		_doc_items_longdesc = "A sponge full of river water. It can be dried in the furnace to turn it into (dry) sponge. When there's an empty bucket in the fuel slot of the furnace, the river water will pour into the bucket.",
+		drawtype = "normal",
+		is_ground_content = false,
+		tiles = {"mcl_sponges_sponge_wet_river_water.png"},
+		walkable = true,
+		pointable = true,
+		diggable = true,
+		buildable_to = false,
+		stack_max = 64,
+		sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_dirt_defaults(),
+		groups = {handy=1, building_block=1},
+		_mcl_blast_resistance = 3,
+		_mcl_hardness = 0.6,
+	})
+
+	minetest.register_craft({
+		type = "cooking",
+		output = "mcl_sponges:sponge",
+		recipe = "mcl_sponges:sponge_wet_river_water",
+		cooktime = 10,
+	})
+end
 
-minetest.register_craft({
-	type = "cooking",
-	output = "mcl_sponges:sponge",
-	recipe = "mcl_sponges:sponge_wet_river_water",
-	cooktime = 10,
-})
 minetest.register_craft({
 	type = "cooking",
 	output = "mcl_sponges:sponge",