diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c05a1cc63..7dfdfa748 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 Keras Core is a new multi-backend implementation of the Keras API, with support for TensorFlow, JAX, and PyTorch.
 
+## Local installation
+
+Run `python3 pip_build.py --install` from the root directory.
+
 ## Backwards compatibility
 
 Keras Core is intend to work as a drop-in replacement for `tf.keras` (when using the TensorFlow backend).
diff --git a/pip_build.py b/pip_build.py
index 21bdf0638..b840269e9 100644
--- a/pip_build.py
+++ b/pip_build.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ import shutil
 
 import namex
 
+# Needed because importing torch after TF causes the runtime to crash
+import torch  # noqa: F401
+
 package = "keras_core"
 build_directory = "tmp_build_dir"
 dist_directory = "dist"