diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index e381c25b..62d74cbd 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -20,6 +20,17 @@ import os, re, shlex, sys
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('../..'))
 
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+class Mock(MagicMock):
+    @classmethod
+    def __getattr__(cls, name):
+        return Mock()
+
+MOCK_MODULES = ['h5py', 'matplotlib']
+sys.modules.update((mod_name, Mock()) for mod_name in MOCK_MODULES)
+
+
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
 
 # If your documentation needs a minimal Sphinx version, state it here.