diff --git a/guppylang/decorator.py b/guppylang/decorator.py
index 3dc19338..4595e004 100644
--- a/guppylang/decorator.py
+++ b/guppylang/decorator.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import ModuleType
-from typing import Any, TypeVar, overload
+from typing import Any, TypeVar, cast, overload
 
 from hugr import ops
 from hugr import tys as ht
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     PyFunc,
     find_guppy_module_in_py_module,
     get_calling_frame,
+    sphinx_running,
 )
 from guppylang.tys.subst import Inst
 from guppylang.tys.ty import NumericType
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ def get_module(
         return module
 
     def compile_module(self, id: ModuleIdentifier | None = None) -> ModulePointer:
-        """Compiles the local module into a Hugr."""
+        """Compiles the xlocal module into a Hugr."""
         module = self.get_module(id)
         if not module:
             err = (
@@ -461,7 +462,56 @@ def registered_modules(self) -> KeysView[ModuleIdentifier]:
         return self._modules.keys()
 
 
-guppy = _Guppy()
+class _GuppyDummy:
+    """A dummy class with the same interface as `@guppy` that is used during sphinx
+    builds to mock the decorator.
+    """
+
+    def __call__(self, arg: PyFunc | GuppyModule) -> Any:
+        if isinstance(arg, GuppyModule):
+            return lambda f: f
+        return arg
+
+    def init_module(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def extend_type(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda cls: cls
+
+    def type(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda cls: cls
+
+    def struct(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda cls: cls
+
+    def type_var(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda cls: cls
+
+    def nat_var(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda cls: cls
+
+    def custom(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda f: f
+
+    def hugr_op(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return lambda f: f
+
+    def declare(self, arg: PyFunc | GuppyModule) -> Any:
+        if isinstance(arg, GuppyModule):
+            return lambda f: f
+        return arg
+
+    def constant(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return None
+
+    def extern(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return None
+
+    def load(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        pass
+
+
+guppy = cast(_Guppy, _GuppyDummy()) if sphinx_running() else _Guppy()
 
 
 def _parse_expr_string(ty_str: str, parse_err: str) -> ast.expr:
diff --git a/guppylang/module.py b/guppylang/module.py
index 018698c6..822f4271 100644
--- a/guppylang/module.py
+++ b/guppylang/module.py
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ def load(
 
         Keyword args may be used to specify alias names for the imports.
         """
+        # Note that we shouldn't evaluate imports during a sphinx build since the @guppy
+        # decorator is mocked in that case
+        if sphinx_running():
+            return
+
         modules: set[GuppyModule] = set()
         defs: dict[DefId, CheckedDef] = {}
         names: dict[str, DefId] = {}
@@ -158,6 +163,11 @@ def load(
 
     def load_all(self, mod: GuppyModule | ModuleType) -> None:
         """Imports all public members of a module."""
+        # Note that we shouldn't evaluate imports during a sphinx build since the @guppy
+        # decorator is mocked in that case
+        if sphinx_running():
+            return
+
         if isinstance(mod, GuppyModule):
             mod.check()
             self.load(
@@ -422,3 +432,15 @@ def get_calling_frame() -> FrameType | None:
             return frame
         frame = frame.f_back
     return None
+
+
+def sphinx_running() -> bool:
+    """Checks if this module was imported during a sphinx build."""
+    # This is the most general solution available at the moment.
+    # See: https://github.com/sphinx-doc/sphinx/issues/9805
+    try:
+        import sphinx  # type: ignore[import-untyped, import-not-found, unused-ignore]
+
+        return hasattr(sphinx, "application")
+    except ImportError:
+        return False