diff --git a/axes/__init__.py b/axes/__init__.py
index 37645c8..6eeef8e 100644
--- a/axes/__init__.py
+++ b/axes/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-from pkg_resources import get_distribution
+try:
+    from importlib.metadata import version  # New in Python 3.8
+except ImportError:
+    from pkg_resources import get_distribution  # from setuptools, deprecated
 
-
-__version__ = get_distribution("django-axes").version
+    __version__ = get_distribution('django-axes').version
+else:
+    __version__ = version('django-axes')
diff --git a/axes/apps.py b/axes/apps.py
index 5ef2612..1fa3094 100644
--- a/axes/apps.py
+++ b/axes/apps.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 from logging import getLogger
 
 from django import apps
-from pkg_resources import get_distribution
+
+from axes import __version__
 
 log = getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class AppConfig(apps.AppConfig):
                 mode = "blocking by IP only"
             log.info(
                 "AXES: BEGIN version %s, %s",
-                get_distribution("django-axes").version,
+                __version__,
                 mode,
             )