diff --git a/src/validate_pyproject/formats.py b/src/validate_pyproject/formats.py
index 1cf4a46..3d4ce6e 100644
--- a/src/validate_pyproject/formats.py
+++ b/src/validate_pyproject/formats.py
@@ -215,6 +215,9 @@ def trove_classifier(value: str) -> bool:
         """See https://pypi.org/classifiers/"""
         return value in _trove_classifiers or value.lower().startswith("private ::")
 
+    if os.getenv("VALIDATE_PYPROJECT_NO_TROVE_CLASSIFIERS"):  # pragma: no cover
+        raise ImportError()
+
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
     trove_classifier = _TroveClassifier()