diff --git a/electrum/commands.py b/electrum/commands.py
index 524a37fce4c9..907874855b8f 100644
--- a/electrum/commands.py
+++ b/electrum/commands.py
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@
 from .transaction import Transaction, multisig_script, TxOutput
 from .paymentrequest import PR_PAID, PR_UNPAID, PR_UNKNOWN, PR_EXPIRED
 from .synchronizer import Notifier
-from .wallet import Abstract_Wallet, create_new_wallet, restore_wallet_from_text
-from .address_synchronizer import TX_HEIGHT_LOCAL
 from .mnemonic import Mnemonic
 from .lnutil import SENT, RECEIVED
 from .lnpeer import channel_id_from_funding_tx
@@ -57,6 +55,12 @@
 from .simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
+try:
+    from .wallet import Abstract_Wallet, create_new_wallet, restore_wallet_from_text
+    from .address_synchronizer import TX_HEIGHT_LOCAL
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .network import Network
     from .daemon import Daemon
diff --git a/electrum/paymentrequest.py b/electrum/paymentrequest.py
index 293ad3d0325f..5fae50cc8373 100644
--- a/electrum/paymentrequest.py
+++ b/electrum/paymentrequest.py
@@ -32,12 +32,6 @@
 import certifi
 import aiohttp
 
-
-try:
-    from . import paymentrequest_pb2 as pb2
-except ImportError:
-    sys.exit("Error: could not find paymentrequest_pb2.py. Create it with 'protoc --proto_path=electrum/ --python_out=electrum/ electrum/paymentrequest.proto'")
-
 from . import bitcoin, ecc, util, transaction, x509, rsakey
 from .util import bh2u, bfh, export_meta, import_meta, make_aiohttp_session
 from .util import PR_UNPAID, PR_EXPIRED, PR_PAID, PR_UNKNOWN, PR_INFLIGHT
@@ -51,6 +45,11 @@
 _logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
+try:
+    from . import paymentrequest_pb2 as pb2
+except ImportError:
+    _logger.error("Error: could not find paymentrequest_pb2.py. This is fine if BIP70 is unneeded. If you're using BIP70, create it with 'protoc --proto_path=electrum/ --python_out=electrum/ electrum/paymentrequest.proto'")
+
 REQUEST_HEADERS = {'Accept': 'application/bitcoin-paymentrequest', 'User-Agent': 'Electrum'}
 ACK_HEADERS = {'Content-Type':'application/bitcoin-payment','Accept':'application/bitcoin-paymentack','User-Agent':'Electrum'}
 
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/address_synchronizer.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/address_synchronizer.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2ae28399f5fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/address_synchronizer.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pass
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/json_db.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/json_db.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2ae28399f5fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/json_db.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pass
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/keystore.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/keystore.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ec245de63342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/keystore.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+from . import bitcoin
+from .bitcoin import public_key_to_p2pkh
+from .util import BitcoinException, bfh
+
+def xpubkey_to_address(x_pubkey):
+    if x_pubkey[0:2] == 'fd':
+        address = bitcoin.script_to_address(x_pubkey[2:])
+        return x_pubkey, address
+    if x_pubkey[0:2] in ['02', '03', '04']:
+        pubkey = x_pubkey
+    elif x_pubkey[0:2] == 'ff':
+        xpub, s = BIP32_KeyStore.parse_xpubkey(x_pubkey)
+        pubkey = BIP32_KeyStore.get_pubkey_from_xpub(xpub, s)
+    elif x_pubkey[0:2] == 'fe':
+        mpk, s = Old_KeyStore.parse_xpubkey(x_pubkey)
+        pubkey = Old_KeyStore.get_pubkey_from_mpk(mpk, s[0], s[1])
+    else:
+        raise BitcoinException("Cannot parse pubkey. prefix: {}"
+                               .format(x_pubkey[0:2]))
+    if pubkey:
+        address = public_key_to_p2pkh(bfh(pubkey))
+    return pubkey, address
+
+def xpubkey_to_pubkey(x_pubkey):
+    pubkey, address = xpubkey_to_address(x_pubkey)
+    return pubkey
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/mnemonic.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/mnemonic.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7c832ddcc7f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/mnemonic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+class Mnemonic(object):
+    def __new__(self, lang=None):
+        return None
+
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/old_mnemonic.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/old_mnemonic.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2ae28399f5fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/old_mnemonic.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pass
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/storage.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/storage.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4e519712a0e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/storage.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+class WalletStorage(object):
+    def __new__(self, path, *, manual_upgrades=False):
+        return None
+
diff --git a/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/wallet.py b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/wallet.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..41aa0cedfba3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electrum_nmc/electrum/null_impl/null_wallet/wallet.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+class Abstract_Wallet(object):
+    def __new__(self, storage):
+        return None
+
+
+class Wallet(object):
+    def __new__(self, storage):
+        return None
+
diff --git a/run_electrum b/run_electrum
index 36803661e718..c42c524a0c29 100755
--- a/run_electrum
+++ b/run_electrum
@@ -59,30 +59,32 @@ def check_imports():
         import pyaes
         import ecdsa
         import certifi
-        import qrcode
-        import google.protobuf
         import aiorpcx
     except ImportError as e:
         sys.exit(f"Error: {str(e)}. Try 'sudo python3 -m pip install <module-name>'")
+    try:
+        import qrcode
+    except ImportError as e:
+        _logger.error(f"Error: {str(e)}. This is fine for the daemon. If you're using the GUI, try 'sudo python3 -m pip install <module-name>'")
+    try:
+        import google.protobuf
+        from google.protobuf import descriptor
+        from google.protobuf import message
+        from google.protobuf import reflection
+        from google.protobuf import descriptor_pb2
+    except ImportError as e:
+        _logger.error(f"Error: {str(e)}. This is fine if BIP70 is unneeded. If you're using BIP70, try 'sudo python3 -m pip install <module-name>'")
     # the following imports are for pyinstaller
-    from google.protobuf import descriptor
-    from google.protobuf import message
-    from google.protobuf import reflection
-    from google.protobuf import descriptor_pb2
     # make sure that certificates are here
     assert os.path.exists(certifi.where())
 
 
-if not is_android:
-    check_imports()
-
-
 from electrum.logging import get_logger, configure_logging
 from electrum import util
 from electrum import constants
 from electrum import SimpleConfig
 from electrum.wallet import Wallet
-from electrum.storage import WalletStorage, get_derivation_used_for_hw_device_encryption
+from electrum.storage import WalletStorage
 from electrum.util import print_msg, print_stderr, json_encode, json_decode, UserCancelled
 from electrum.util import InvalidPassword
 from electrum.commands import get_parser, known_commands, Commands, config_variables
@@ -92,6 +94,9 @@ from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop
 
 _logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
+if not is_android:
+    check_imports()
+
 
 # get password routine
 def prompt_password(prompt, confirm=True):
@@ -189,6 +194,7 @@ def get_password_for_hw_device_encrypted_storage(plugins):
     # FIXME we use the "first" device, in case of multiple ones
     name, device_info = devices[0]
     plugin = plugins.get_plugin(name)
+    from electrum.storage import get_derivation_used_for_hw_device_encryption
     derivation = get_derivation_used_for_hw_device_encryption()
     try:
         xpub = plugin.get_xpub(device_info.device.id_, derivation, 'standard', plugin.handler)