diff --git a/qtpy/__init__.py b/qtpy/__init__.py
index 772fe3d1..e473274a 100644
--- a/qtpy/__init__.py
+++ b/qtpy/__init__.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 
 """
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from packaging.version import parse
 import os
 import platform
 import sys
@@ -121,15 +121,15 @@ class PythonQtWarning(Warning):
         PYSIDE_VERSION = None
 
         if sys.platform == 'darwin':
-            macos_version = LooseVersion(platform.mac_ver()[0])
-            if macos_version < LooseVersion('10.10'):
-                if LooseVersion(QT_VERSION) >= LooseVersion('5.9'):
+            macos_version = parse(platform.mac_ver()[0])
+            if macos_version < parse('10.10'):
+                if parse(QT_VERSION) >= parse('5.9'):
                     raise PythonQtError("Qt 5.9 or higher only works in "
                                         "macOS 10.10 or higher. Your "
                                         "program will fail in this "
                                         "system.")
-            elif macos_version < LooseVersion('10.11'):
-                if LooseVersion(QT_VERSION) >= LooseVersion('5.11'):
+            elif macos_version < parse('10.11'):
+                if parse(QT_VERSION) >= parse('5.11'):
                     raise PythonQtError("Qt 5.11 or higher only works in "
                                         "macOS 10.11 or higher. Your "
                                         "program will fail in this "
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ class PythonQtWarning(Warning):
         PYSIDE2 = True
 
         if sys.platform == 'darwin':
-            macos_version = LooseVersion(platform.mac_ver()[0])
-            if macos_version < LooseVersion('10.11'):
-                if LooseVersion(QT_VERSION) >= LooseVersion('5.11'):
+            macos_version = parse(platform.mac_ver()[0])
+            if macos_version < parse('10.11'):
+                if parse(QT_VERSION) >= parse('5.11'):
                     raise PythonQtError("Qt 5.11 or higher only works in "
                                         "macOS 10.11 or higher. Your "
                                         "program will fail in this "
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 0631220f..5aacfb6c 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     version=version_ns['__version__'],
     packages=find_packages(exclude=['contrib', 'docs', 'tests*']),
     python_requires='>=3.6',
+    install_requires=['packaging'],
     keywords=["qt PyQt5 PyQt6 PySide2 PySide6"],
     url='https://github.com/spyder-ide/qtpy',
     license='MIT',