diff --git a/plugins/Dict/plugin.py b/plugins/Dict/plugin.py
index c7fa21b50..1ceeafec4 100644
--- a/plugins/Dict/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/Dict/plugin.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import supybot.ircutils as ircutils
 import supybot.callbacks as callbacks
 
 try:
-    dictclient = universalImport('dictclient', 'local.dictclient')
+    dictclient = utils.python.universalImport('dictclient', 'local.dictclient')
 except ImportError:
     raise callbacks.Error, \
             'You need to have dictclient installed to use this plugin.  ' \
diff --git a/plugins/Google/plugin.py b/plugins/Google/plugin.py
index 8690feab9..7c73e7228 100644
--- a/plugins/Google/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/Google/plugin.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ###
 # Copyright (c) 2002-2004, Jeremiah Fincher
-# Copyright (c) 2008, James Vega
+# Copyright (c) 2008-2009, James Vega
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -42,7 +42,14 @@ import supybot.ircmsgs as ircmsgs
 import supybot.ircutils as ircutils
 import supybot.callbacks as callbacks
 
-simplejson = universalImport('json', 'simplejson', 'local.simplejson')
+try:
+    simplejson = utils.python.universalImport('json', 'simplejson',
+                                              'local.simplejson')
+except ImportError:
+    raise callbacks.Error, \
+            'You need Python2.6 or the simplejson module installed to use ' \
+            'this plugin.  Download the module at ' \
+            '<http://undefined.org/python/#simplejson>.'
 
 class Google(callbacks.PluginRegexp):
     threaded = True
diff --git a/plugins/RSS/plugin.py b/plugins/RSS/plugin.py
index 249c752db..03b40a21f 100644
--- a/plugins/RSS/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/RSS/plugin.py
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ import supybot.ircutils as ircutils
 import supybot.registry as registry
 import supybot.callbacks as callbacks
 
-feedparser = utils.python.universalImport('feedparser', 'local.feedparser')
+try:
+    feedparser = utils.python.universalImport('feedparser', 'local.feedparser')
+except ImportError:
+    raise callbacks.Error, \
+            'You the feedparser module installed to use this plugin.  ' \
+            'Download the module at <http://feedparser.org/>.'
 
 def getFeedName(irc, msg, args, state):
     if not registry.isValidRegistryName(args[0]):