diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 9a48d6d..bcebd9e 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -35,10 +35,19 @@ const gateway = (opts) => {
   })
 
   // processing websocket routes
-  registerWebSocketRoutes({
-    routes: opts.routes.filter(route => route.proxyType === 'websocket'),
-    server: router.getServer()
-  })
+  const wsRoutes = opts.routes.filter(route => route.proxyType === 'websocket')
+  if (wsRoutes.length) {
+    if (typeof router.getServer !== 'function') {
+      throw new Error(
+        'Unable to retrieve the HTTP server instance. ' +
+        'If you are not using restana, make sure to provide an "app.getServer()" alternative method!'
+      )
+    }
+    registerWebSocketRoutes({
+      routes: wsRoutes,
+      server: router.getServer()
+    })
+  }
 
   // processing non-websocket routes
   opts.routes.filter(route => route.proxyType !== 'websocket').forEach(route => {
diff --git a/lib/ws-proxy.js b/lib/ws-proxy.js
index 8fc879b..144110b 100644
--- a/lib/ws-proxy.js
+++ b/lib/ws-proxy.js
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 'use strict'
 
-const WebSocket = require('faye-websocket')
 const { onOpenNoOp } = require('./default-hooks').websocket
 
 module.exports = (config) => {
+  const WebSocket = require('faye-websocket')
+
   const { routes, server } = config
 
   const prefix2route = new Map()