diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 032c5f1..1d9c630 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ Install: ![pyversions](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/nbproject)
 pip install nbproject
 ```
 
+Also consider installing `ipylab` for interactive features
+if you use `nbpoject` on `jupyter lab`
+
+```
+pip install ipylab
+```
+
 Get started:
 
 ```
diff --git a/nbproject/__init__.py b/nbproject/__init__.py
index 53cbc8c..c494549 100644
--- a/nbproject/__init__.py
+++ b/nbproject/__init__.py
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@
 """
 __version__ = "0.10.2"
 
+from .dev._jupyter_lab_commands import _init_frontend
+
+# init jupyter lab frontend immediately on import
+# nothing happens if this is not jupyter lab
+try:
+    _init_frontend()
+except:  # noqa: E722
+    pass
+
 from . import dev
 from ._header import header
 from ._meta import meta
diff --git a/nbproject/_header.py b/nbproject/_header.py
index 55d95a7..b186c0a 100644
--- a/nbproject/_header.py
+++ b/nbproject/_header.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from .dev._frontend_commands import _reload_notebook, _save_notebook
 from .dev._initialize import initialize_metadata
 from .dev._jupyter_communicate import notebook_path
+from .dev._jupyter_lab_commands import _ipylab_is_installed
 from .dev._metadata_display import display_html, table_metadata
 from .dev._notebook import Notebook, read_notebook, write_notebook
 
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@
 msg_init_complete = (
     "Init complete. Hit save & reload from disk, i.e, *discard* editor content. If you"
     " do not want to lose editor changes, hit save *before* running `header()`."
-    " Consider using Jupyter Lab for a seamless interactive experience."
+    " Consider using Jupyter Lab with ipylab installed for a seamless interactive experience."
 )
 
 msg_inconsistent_parent = (
@@ -113,9 +114,13 @@ def header(
     global _time_run, _filepath, _env
     _time_run, _filepath, _env = time_run, filepath, env
 
+    interactive_envs = ["notebook"]
+    if _ipylab_is_installed():
+        interactive_envs.append("lab")
+
     # initialize
     if "nbproject" not in nb.metadata:
-        if env in ("lab", "notebook"):
+        if env in interactive_envs:
             _save_notebook(env)
             nb = read_notebook(filepath)  # type: ignore
 
@@ -129,7 +134,7 @@ def header(
             _output_table(nb, table_metadata(metadata, nb, time_run))
             write_notebook(nb, filepath)  # type: ignore
 
-            if env in ("lab", "notebook"):
+            if env in interactive_envs:
                 _reload_notebook(env)
             else:
                 raise SystemExit(msg_init_complete)
diff --git a/nbproject/_publish.py b/nbproject/_publish.py
index 1a73f10..104d948 100644
--- a/nbproject/_publish.py
+++ b/nbproject/_publish.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from .dev._check_last_cell import check_last_cell
 from .dev._consecutiveness import check_consecutiveness
 from .dev._frontend_commands import _save_notebook
+from .dev._jupyter_lab_commands import _ipylab_is_installed
 from .dev._notebook import read_notebook
 from .dev._set_version import set_version
 
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ def run_checks_for_publish(
     *, calling_statement: str, i_confirm_i_saved: bool = False, **kwargs
 ):
     """Runs all checks for publishing."""
-    if meta.env in ("lab", "notebook"):
+    if meta.env == "notebook" or (meta.env == "lab" and _ipylab_is_installed()):
         _save_notebook(meta.env)
     else:
         pretend_no_test_env = (
@@ -26,8 +27,8 @@ def run_checks_for_publish(
         elif not i_confirm_i_saved:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 "Make sure you save the notebook in your editor before publishing!\n"
-                "You can avoid the need for manually saving in Jupyter Lab or Notebook,"
-                " which auto-save the buffer during publish."
+                "You can avoid the need for manually saving in Jupyter Lab with ipylab installed"
+                " or Notebook, which auto-save the buffer during publish."
             )
 
     notebook_title = meta.live.title
diff --git a/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_communicate.py b/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_communicate.py
index bbd75e4..eab463c 100644
--- a/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_communicate.py
+++ b/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_communicate.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from nbproject._logger import logger
 
-from ._jupyter_lab_commands import _lab_notebook_path
+from ._jupyter_lab_commands import _ipylab_is_installed, _lab_notebook_path
 
 DIR_KEYS = ("notebook_dir", "root_dir")
 
@@ -153,9 +153,6 @@ def notebook_path(return_env=False):
         nb_path = PurePath(os.environ["JPY_SESSION_NAME"])
         return (nb_path, "lab" if env is None else env) if return_env else nb_path
 
-    if server_exception is not None:
-        raise server_exception
-
     # no running servers
     if servers_nbapp == [] and servers_juserv == []:
         logger.warning("Can not find any servers running.")
@@ -163,4 +160,12 @@ def notebook_path(return_env=False):
     logger.warning(
         "Can not find the notebook in any server session or by using other methods."
     )
+    if not _ipylab_is_installed():
+        logger.warning(
+            "Consider installing ipylab (pip install ipylab) if you use jupyter lab."
+        )
+
+    if server_exception is not None:
+        raise server_exception
+
     return None
diff --git a/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_lab_commands.py b/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_lab_commands.py
index 8ceb796..70f5abb 100644
--- a/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_lab_commands.py
+++ b/nbproject/dev/_jupyter_lab_commands.py
@@ -6,32 +6,30 @@
 app = None
 
 
+# called in __init__.py
 def _init_frontend():
-    from ipylab import JupyterFrontEnd
+    try:
+        from ipylab import JupyterFrontEnd
 
-    global app
-    if app is None and is_run_from_ipython:
-        app = JupyterFrontEnd()
+        global app
+        if app is None and is_run_from_ipython:
+            app = JupyterFrontEnd()
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
 
 
 def _save_notebook():
-    _init_frontend()
-
     if app is not None:
         app.commands.execute("docmanager:save")
         sleep(1)
 
 
 def _reload_notebook():
-    _init_frontend()
-
     if app is not None:
         app.commands.execute("docmanager:reload")
 
 
 def _lab_notebook_path():
-    _init_frontend()
-
     if app is None:
         return None
 
@@ -43,3 +41,14 @@ def _lab_notebook_path():
         nb_path = None
 
     return nb_path
+
+
+def _ipylab_is_installed():
+    if app is not None:
+        return True
+    try:
+        import ipylab
+
+        return True
+    except ImportError:
+        return False
diff --git a/nbproject/dev/_metadata_display.py b/nbproject/dev/_metadata_display.py
index 2741514..37347f7 100644
--- a/nbproject/dev/_metadata_display.py
+++ b/nbproject/dev/_metadata_display.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
+from nbproject._logger import logger
+
 from ._consecutiveness import check_consecutiveness
 from ._lamin_communicate import lamin_user_settings
 from ._notebook import Notebook
@@ -147,8 +149,9 @@ def table_metadata(
     if dm.parent() is not None:
         table.append(["parent", dm.parent()])
 
-    if version != "0":
-        consecutiveness = check_consecutiveness(notebook)
+    if version not in {"0", "1"}:
+        with logger.mute():
+            consecutiveness = check_consecutiveness(notebook)
         table.append(["consecutive_cells", str(consecutiveness)])
 
     dep_store = dm.pypackage()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3dbd4e2..4e26ef7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "orjson",
     "importlib-metadata",
     "stdlib_list; python_version < '3.10'",
-    "lamin_utils>=0.5.0",
+    "lamin_utils>=0.13.2",
 ]
 
 [project.urls]