diff --git a/eessi/__init__.py b/eessi/__init__.py
index 5284146e..18c8506f 100644
--- a/eessi/__init__.py
+++ b/eessi/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,9 @@
-__import__("pkg_resources").declare_namespace(__name__)
+# On older python's this is needed for correct installation of a namespace package
+# But on newer pythons, there is no pkg_resources anymore
+# We pragmatically wrap it in a try-block. It can be removed entirely after we stop supporting
+# python 3.6, since then we can simply require a new enough setuptools that this declare_namespace is
+# no longer required
+try:
+    __import__("pkg_resources").declare_namespace(__name__)
+except ImportError:
+    pass