diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b2a020c..296a205 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -20,5 +20,6 @@
     install_requires=[
         'numpy',
         'scipy',
+        'opt_einsum',
     ],
 )
diff --git a/tensorbackends/backends/numpy/numpy_backend.py b/tensorbackends/backends/numpy/numpy_backend.py
index 229d5a2..47a6c1b 100644
--- a/tensorbackends/backends/numpy/numpy_backend.py
+++ b/tensorbackends/backends/numpy/numpy_backend.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.linalg as la
+from opt_einsum import contract
 
 from ...interface import Backend
 from ...utils import einstr
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ def wrapped_result(*args, **kwargs):
             return result
 
     def _einsum(self, expr, operands):
-        result = np.einsum(expr.indices_string, *(operand.tsr for operand in operands), optimize='greedy')
+        result = contract(expr.indices_string, *(operand.tsr for operand in operands))
         if isinstance(result, np.ndarray) and result.ndim != 0:
             newshape = expr.outputs[0].newshape(result.shape)
             result = result.reshape(*newshape)