diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index b460496..1671f79 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ Depends:
     util-linux,
     e2fsprogs,
     python3-daemon,
-    python3-distutils,
     python3-qubesdb,
     python3-gi,
     python3-xdg,
diff --git a/qubesagent/firewall.py b/qubesagent/firewall.py
index ae4b29e..50e9065 100755
--- a/qubesagent/firewall.py
+++ b/qubesagent/firewall.py
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 import socket
 import subprocess
-from distutils import spawn
-
+import shutil
 import daemon
 
 import qubesdb
@@ -732,7 +731,7 @@ class NftablesWorker(FirewallWorker):
 
 
 def main():
-    if spawn.find_executable('nft'):
+    if shutil.which('nft'):
         worker = NftablesWorker()
     else:
         worker = IptablesWorker()