diff --git a/calmap/__init__.py b/calmap/__init__.py
index 7651522..2ddb034 100644
--- a/calmap/__init__.py
+++ b/calmap/__init__.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
+from packaging import version
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
 from matplotlib.patches import Polygon
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 __contact__ = "marvin.thielk@gmail.com, martijn@vermaat.name"
 __homepage__ = "https://github.com/MarvinT/calmap"
 
-_pandas_18 = StrictVersion(pd.__version__) >= StrictVersion("0.18")
+_pandas_18 = version.parse(pd.__version__) >= version.parse("0.18")
 
 
 def yearplot(
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6f52f4e..ffff4bb 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import os
 from setuptools import setup
 
-install_requires = ["matplotlib", "numpy", "pandas"]
+install_requires = ["matplotlib", "packaging", "numpy", "pandas"]
 
 try:
     with open("README.md") as readme: