diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/depends.txt b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/depends.txt
index 2e7132599..021df7cb0 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/depends.txt
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/depends.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 mcl_init
 mcl_sounds
-mcl_core
-mcl_hunger
-mcl_death_messages
+mcl_core?
 screwdriver?
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/init.lua
index f27ee247a..78db3ba9c 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_anvils/init.lua
@@ -443,14 +443,16 @@ minetest.register_node("mcl_anvils:anvil", anvildef0)
 minetest.register_node("mcl_anvils:anvil_damage_1", anvildef1)
 minetest.register_node("mcl_anvils:anvil_damage_2", anvildef2)
 
-minetest.register_craft({
-	output = "mcl_anvils:anvil",
-	recipe = {
-		{ "mcl_core:ironblock", "mcl_core:ironblock", "mcl_core:ironblock" },
-		{ "", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "" },
-		{ "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "mcl_core:iron_ingot" },
-	}
-})
+if minetest.get_modpath("mcl_core") then
+	minetest.register_craft({
+		output = "mcl_anvils:anvil",
+		recipe = {
+			{ "mcl_core:ironblock", "mcl_core:ironblock", "mcl_core:ironblock" },
+			{ "", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "" },
+			{ "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "mcl_core:iron_ingot" },
+		}
+	})
+end
 
 if minetest.get_modpath("doc") then
 	doc.add_entry_alias("nodes", "mcl_anvils:anvil", "nodes", "mcl_anvils:anvil_damage_1")