diff --git a/chatette/__init__.py b/chatette/__init__.py
index a3fb899..047e148 100644
--- a/chatette/__init__.py
+++ b/chatette/__init__.py
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@
 """
 
 # Retrieve the version number using setuptools
-import pkg_resources
 try:
-    __version__ = pkg_resources.require("chatette")[0].version
-except pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound:
-    __version__ = "<couldn't retrieve version number>"  # TODO: find another way
+    import pkg_resources
+    try:
+        __version__ = pkg_resources.require("chatette")[0].version
+    except pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound:
+        __version__ = "<couldn't retrieve version number>"  # TODO: find another way
+except ImportError:
+    __version__ = "<couldn't retrieve version number>"