diff --git a/mpl_scatter_density/tests/__init__.py b/mpl_scatter_density/tests/__init__.py
index 99e098e..0f96f24 100644
--- a/mpl_scatter_density/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/mpl_scatter_density/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 import os
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from packaging.version import Version
 
 import matplotlib
 
-MPL_VERSION = LooseVersion(matplotlib.__version__)
+MPL_VERSION = Version(matplotlib.__version__)
 
 baseline_root = 'baseline'
 
-if MPL_VERSION >= LooseVersion('3'):  # pragma: nocover
+if MPL_VERSION >= Version('3'):  # pragma: nocover
     baseline_subdir = '3.0.x'
 else:  # pragma: nocover
     raise ValueError('Matplotlib {0} is not supported'.format(matplotlib.__version__))
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 902eb38..be21da6 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ install_requires =
     numpy
     matplotlib>=3.0
     fast-histogram>=0.3
+    packaging
 
 [options.extras_require]
 test =
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6008dbf..dfd34b1 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import sys
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from packaging.version import Version
 
 try:
     import setuptools
-    assert LooseVersion(setuptools.__version__) >= LooseVersion('30.3')
+    assert Version(setuptools.__version__) >= Version('30.3')
 except (ImportError, AssertionError):
     sys.stderr.write("ERROR: setuptools 30.3 or later is required\n")
     sys.exit(1)