diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/depends.txt
index 3d96266de..10e9d2909 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 dd42b7bf7..14e00726e 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",