diff --git a/.actions/assistant.py b/.actions/assistant.py
index ac0f83458e..15a20e63c6 100644
--- a/.actions/assistant.py
+++ b/.actions/assistant.py
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ import re
 import shutil
 import tempfile
 import urllib.request
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from itertools import chain
 from os.path import dirname, isfile
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple
 
 from packaging.requirements import Requirement
+from packaging.version import Version
 
 REQUIREMENT_FILES = {
     "pytorch": (
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class _RequirementWithComment(Requirement):
         if unfreeze == "major":
             for operator, version in specs:
                 if operator in ("<", "<="):
-                    major = LooseVersion(version).version[0]
+                    major = Version(version).major
                     # replace upper bound with major version increased by one
                     return out.replace(f"{operator}{version}", f"<{major + 1}.0")
         elif unfreeze == "all":