diff --git a/elpy/blackutil.py b/elpy/blackutil.py
index e09ed417..667d6e48 100644
--- a/elpy/blackutil.py
+++ b/elpy/blackutil.py
@@ -7,13 +7,18 @@
 from elpy.rpc import Fault
 # in case pkg_resources is not properly installed
 # (see https://github.com/jorgenschaefer/elpy/issues/1674).
+# in case pkg_resources is not properly installed
+# (see https://github.com/jorgenschaefer/elpy/issues/1674).
 try:
-    from pkg_resources import parse_version
+    from packaging.version import Version as parse_version
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    def parse_version(*arg, **kwargs):
-        raise Fault("`pkg_resources` could not be imported, "
-                    "please reinstall Elpy RPC virtualenv with"
-                    " `M-x elpy-rpc-reinstall-virtualenv`", code=400)
+    try:
+        from pkg_resources import parse_version
+    except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
+        def parse_version(*arg, **kwargs):
+            raise Fault("`pkg_resources` could not be imported, "
+                        "please reinstall Elpy RPC virtualenv with"
+                        " `M-x elpy-rpc-reinstall-virtualenv`", code=400)
 
 import os
 
diff --git a/elpy/jedibackend.py b/elpy/jedibackend.py
index 96b75502..fdc11737 100644
--- a/elpy/jedibackend.py
+++ b/elpy/jedibackend.py
@@ -18,12 +18,15 @@
 # in case pkg_resources is not properly installed
 # (see https://github.com/jorgenschaefer/elpy/issues/1674).
 try:
-    from pkg_resources import parse_version
+    from packaging.version import Version as parse_version
 except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-    def parse_version(*arg, **kwargs):
-        raise Fault("`pkg_resources` could not be imported, "
-                    "please reinstall Elpy RPC virtualenv with"
-                    " `M-x elpy-rpc-reinstall-virtualenv`", code=400)
+    try:
+        from pkg_resources import parse_version
+    except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
+        def parse_version(*arg, **kwargs):
+            raise Fault("`pkg_resources` could not be imported, "
+                        "please reinstall Elpy RPC virtualenv with"
+                        " `M-x elpy-rpc-reinstall-virtualenv`", code=400)
 JEDISUP17 = parse_version(jedi.__version__) >= parse_version("0.17.0")
 JEDISUP18 = parse_version(jedi.__version__) >= parse_version("0.18.0")