diff --git a/matscipy/io/opls.py b/matscipy/io/opls.py
index 71a9cbba..5dabd6f7 100644
--- a/matscipy/io/opls.py
+++ b/matscipy/io/opls.py
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 import time
 import copy
-import sys
 import re
-import distutils.version
+
+from looseversion import LooseVersion
 
 import numpy as np
 import ase
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ def write_lammps_atoms(prefix, atoms, units='metal'):
                 fileobj.write('%d dihedral types\n' % (len(dtypes)))
 
             # cell
-            if distutils.version.LooseVersion(ase_version_str) > distutils.version.LooseVersion('3.11.0'):
+            if LooseVersion(ase_version_str) > LooseVersion('3.11.0'):
                 p = ase.calculators.lammpsrun.Prism(atoms.get_cell())
             else:
                 p = ase.calculators.lammpsrun.prism(atoms.get_cell())
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8e073428..bb90c4f9 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "numpy>=1.16.0",
     "scipy>=1.2.3",
     "ase>=3.16.0",
+    "looseversion"
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
diff --git a/tests/test_c2d.py b/tests/test_c2d.py
index e09d6550..63eab896 100644
--- a/tests/test_c2d.py
+++ b/tests/test_c2d.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from looseversion import LooseVersion
 
 class c2dCliTest(matscipytest.MatSciPyTestCase):
     """Tests c2d and pnp command line interfaces"""