diff --git a/vllm_ascend/distributed/kv_transfer/utils/mooncake_transfer_engine.py b/vllm_ascend/distributed/kv_transfer/utils/mooncake_transfer_engine.py
index 3527f9cd..7cf309b0 100644
--- a/vllm_ascend/distributed/kv_transfer/utils/mooncake_transfer_engine.py
+++ b/vllm_ascend/distributed/kv_transfer/utils/mooncake_transfer_engine.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import threading
 
-from mooncake.engine import TransferEngine  # type: ignore
-
 
 class GlobalTE:
     def __init__(self):
@@ -15,8 +13,14 @@ class GlobalTE:
             with self.transfer_engine_lock:
                 # Double-Checked Locking
                 if self.transfer_engine is None:
-                    if TransferEngine is None:
-                        raise RuntimeError("mooncake is not available")
+                    try:
+                        from mooncake.engine import TransferEngine  # type: ignore
+                    except ImportError as e:
+                        raise ImportError(
+                            "Please install mooncake by following the instructions at "
+                            "https://github.com/kvcache-ai/Mooncake/blob/main/doc/en/build.md "  # noqa: E501
+                            "to run vLLM with MooncakeConnector."
+                        ) from e
                     self.transfer_engine = TransferEngine()
                     device_name = device_name if device_name is not None else ""
                     ret_value = self.transfer_engine.initialize(hostname, "P2PHANDSHAKE", "ascend", device_name)