diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ccd4747f..02421c30 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ git clone https://github.com/rai-opensource/spatialmath-python.git
 cd spatialmath-python
 pip install -e .
 # Optional: if you would like to contribute and commit code changes to the repository,
+# install the development tools (including pre-commit) and set up the git hooks
+# pip install -e .[dev]
 # pre-commit install
 ```
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 1597ad25..ed5a07a5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ dependencies = [
     "matplotlib",
     "ansitable",
     "typing_extensions>=4.0.0",
-    "pre-commit",
 ]
 
 [project.urls]
@@ -50,6 +49,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 
 dev = [
+    "pre-commit",
     "sympy",
     "pytest",
     "pytest-timeout",