diff --git a/hvplot/tests/testutil.py b/hvplot/tests/testutil.py
index 71dc7c42a..2dc7cac67 100644
--- a/hvplot/tests/testutil.py
+++ b/hvplot/tests/testutil.py
@@ -393,13 +393,13 @@ def test_geoviews_is_available():
 
 
 def test_geoviews_is_available_no_raise():
-    with patch('hvplot.util.geoviews_is_available', side_effect=ImportError):
+    with patch('hvplot.util.find_spec', return_value=None):
         result = geoviews_is_available(raise_error=False)
         assert result is False
 
 
 def test_geoviews_is_available_with_raise():
-    with patch('hvplot.util.geoviews_is_available', side_effect=ImportError):
+    with patch('hvplot.util.find_spec', return_value=None):
         with pytest.raises(
             ImportError, match='GeoViews must be installed to enable the geographic options.'
         ):
diff --git a/hvplot/ui.py b/hvplot/ui.py
index b6256ecef..ad9b19023 100644
--- a/hvplot/ui.py
+++ b/hvplot/ui.py
@@ -665,8 +665,8 @@ def _plot(self):
         if kwargs.get('geo'):
             if 'crs' not in kwargs:
                 xmax = np.max(np.abs(self.xlim()))
-                self.geographic.crs = 'PlateCarree' if xmax <= 360 else 'GOOGLE_MERCATOR'
-                kwargs['crs'] = self.geographic.crs
+                # self.geographic.crs = 'PlateCarree' if xmax <= 360 else 'GOOGLE_MERCATOR'
+                kwargs['crs'] = 'PlateCarree' if xmax <= 360 else 'GOOGLE_MERCATOR'
             for key in ['crs', 'projection']:
                 if key not in kwargs:
                     continue
diff --git a/hvplot/util.py b/hvplot/util.py
index 6a86cab7f..33dcb336c 100644
--- a/hvplot/util.py
+++ b/hvplot/util.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 Provides utilities to convert data and projections
 """
 
+from importlib.util import find_spec
 import sys
 
 from collections.abc import Hashable
@@ -756,15 +757,8 @@ def geoviews_is_available(raise_error: bool = False):
     """
     Check if GeoViews is available and raise an ImportError if not.
     """
-    try:
-        import geoviews  # noqa
-
-        gv_available = True
-    except ImportError:
-        gv_available = False
-
-    if not raise_error:
-        return gv_available
+    gv_available = find_spec('geoviews') is not None
 
     if not gv_available and raise_error:
         raise ImportError('GeoViews must be installed to enable the geographic options.')
+    return gv_available