diff --git a/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py b/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
index 122c3e0cf..fa02f072c 100755
--- a/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
+++ b/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import argparse
 import logging
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from packaging import version
 
 from misoc.integration.builder import builder_args, builder_argdict
 from misoc.targets.kasli import soc_kasli_args, soc_kasli_argdict
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def main():
     description = jsondesc.load(args.description)
 
     min_artiq_version = description.get("min_artiq_version", "0")
-    if LooseVersion(artiq_version) < LooseVersion(min_artiq_version):
+    if version.parse(artiq_version) < version.parse(min_artiq_version):
         logger.warning("ARTIQ version mismatch: current %s < %s minimum",
                        artiq_version, min_artiq_version)
 
diff --git a/versioneer.py b/versioneer.py
index 93f1c661d..68574501b 100644
--- a/versioneer.py
+++ b/versioneer.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def get_version():
     srcroot = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     with open(os.path.join(srcroot, "MAJOR_VERSION"), "r") as f:
         version = f.read().strip()
-    version += ".unknown"
+    version += ".0"
     if os.path.exists(os.path.join(srcroot, "BETA")):
         version += ".beta"
     return version