4 files changed, 50 insertions, 11 deletions
diff --git a/pkg_resources/__init__.py b/pkg_resources/__init__.py
index b55e4127..82382962 100644
--- a/pkg_resources/__init__.py
+++ b/pkg_resources/__init__.py
@@ -87,15 +87,10 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
-try:
-    import pkg_resources._vendor.packaging.version
-    import pkg_resources._vendor.packaging.specifiers
-    packaging = pkg_resources._vendor.packaging
-except ImportError:
-    # fallback to naturally-installed version; allows system packagers to
-    #  omit vendored packages.
-    import packaging.version
-    import packaging.specifiers
+
+from pkg_resources.extern import packaging
+__import__('pkg_resources.extern.packaging.version')
+__import__('pkg_resources.extern.packaging.specifiers')
 
 
 if (3, 0) < sys.version_info < (3, 3):
diff --git a/pkg_resources/extern/__init__.py b/pkg_resources/extern/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg_resources/extern/__init__.py
diff --git a/pkg_resources/extern/packaging.py b/pkg_resources/extern/packaging.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..47f58eab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg_resources/extern/packaging.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""
+Handle loading a package from system or from the bundled copy
+"""
+
+import imp
+
+
+_SEARCH_PATH = ['pkg_resources._vendor.packaging', 'packaging']
+
+
+def _find_module(name, path=None):
+    """
+    Alternative to `imp.find_module` that can also search in subpackages.
+    """
+
+    parts = name.split('.')
+
+    for part in parts:
+        if path is not None:
+            path = [path]
+
+        fh, path, descr = imp.find_module(part, path)
+
+    return fh, path, descr
+
+
+def _import_in_place(search_path=_SEARCH_PATH):
+    for mod_name in search_path:
+        try:
+            mod_info = _find_module(mod_name)
+        except ImportError:
+            continue
+
+        imp.load_module(__name__, *mod_info)
+        break
+
+    else:
+        raise ImportError(
+            "The '{name}' package is required; "
+            "normally this is bundled with this package so if you get "
+            "this warning, consult the packager of your "
+            "distribution.".format(name=_SEARCH_PATH[-1]))
+
+
+_import_in_place()
diff --git a/pkg_resources/tests/test_resources.py b/pkg_resources/tests/test_resources.py
index 9fda892f..141d63ad 100644
--- a/pkg_resources/tests/test_resources.py
+++ b/pkg_resources/tests/test_resources.py
@@ -5,14 +5,13 @@ import shutil
 import string
 
 import pytest
+from pkg_resources.extern import packaging
 
 import pkg_resources
 from pkg_resources import (parse_requirements, VersionConflict, parse_version,
     Distribution, EntryPoint, Requirement, safe_version, safe_name,
     WorkingSet)
 
-packaging = pkg_resources.packaging
-
 
 def safe_repr(obj, short=False):
     """ copied from Python2.7"""