diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/74599-vendor-distutils.yml b/changelogs/fragments/74599-vendor-distutils.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..43fe37d73c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/74599-vendor-distutils.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+minor_changes:
+- Vendor ``distutils.version`` due to it's deprecation in Python 3.10 and impending removal in Python 3.12
+  (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/74599)
diff --git a/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/dump_keywords.py b/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/dump_keywords.py
index 2fc6e5d259f..481df411b49 100644
--- a/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/dump_keywords.py
+++ b/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/dump_keywords.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import importlib
 import os.path
 import pathlib
 import re
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 import jinja2
 import yaml
diff --git a/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/release_announcement.py b/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/release_announcement.py
index 620dda0d720..edc928a0ec9 100644
--- a/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/release_announcement.py
+++ b/hacking/build_library/build_ansible/command_plugins/release_announcement.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import sys
 from collections import UserString
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 # Pylint doesn't understand Python3 namespace modules.
 from ..commands import Command  # pylint: disable=relative-beyond-top-level
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/interpreter_discovery.py b/lib/ansible/executor/interpreter_discovery.py
index 218920a1228..28158aedb38 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/interpreter_discovery.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/interpreter_discovery.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.distro import LinuxDistribution
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.plugin_docs import get_versioned_doclink
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from traceback import format_exc
 
 display = Display()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/powershell/module_manifest.py b/lib/ansible/executor/powershell/module_manifest.py
index a784d244b09..b8aaeb7b812 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/powershell/module_manifest.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/powershell/module_manifest.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import pkgutil
 import random
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
diff --git a/lib/ansible/galaxy/collection/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/galaxy/collection/__init__.py
index b6b7c9b340d..f13f5e4159e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/galaxy/collection/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/galaxy/collection/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import yaml
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 from contextlib import contextmanager
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from hashlib import sha256
 from io import BytesIO
 from itertools import chain
diff --git a/lib/ansible/galaxy/dependency_resolution/versioning.py b/lib/ansible/galaxy/dependency_resolution/versioning.py
index c57f0d21e9f..7dcec7780ff 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/galaxy/dependency_resolution/versioning.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/galaxy/dependency_resolution/versioning.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
 import operator
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.utils.version import SemanticVersion
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/galaxy/role.py b/lib/ansible/galaxy/role.py
index 2c072a6fd59..9868f9ff54c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/galaxy/role.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/galaxy/role.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import datetime
 import os
 import tarfile
 import tempfile
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from shutil import rmtree
 
 from ansible import context
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/compat/version.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/compat/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..59ee9dbc013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/compat/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,343 @@
+# Vendored copy of distutils/version.py from CPython 3.9.5
+#
+# Implements multiple version numbering conventions for the
+# Python Module Distribution Utilities.
+#
+# PSF License (see licenses/PSF-license.txt or https://opensource.org/licenses/Python-2.0)
+#
+
+"""Provides classes to represent module version numbers (one class for
+each style of version numbering).  There are currently two such classes
+implemented: StrictVersion and LooseVersion.
+
+Every version number class implements the following interface:
+  * the 'parse' method takes a string and parses it to some internal
+    representation; if the string is an invalid version number,
+    'parse' raises a ValueError exception
+  * the class constructor takes an optional string argument which,
+    if supplied, is passed to 'parse'
+  * __str__ reconstructs the string that was passed to 'parse' (or
+    an equivalent string -- ie. one that will generate an equivalent
+    version number instance)
+  * __repr__ generates Python code to recreate the version number instance
+  * _cmp compares the current instance with either another instance
+    of the same class or a string (which will be parsed to an instance
+    of the same class, thus must follow the same rules)
+"""
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import re
+
+try:
+    RE_FLAGS = re.VERBOSE | re.ASCII
+except AttributeError:
+    RE_FLAGS = re.VERBOSE
+
+
+class Version:
+    """Abstract base class for version numbering classes.  Just provides
+    constructor (__init__) and reproducer (__repr__), because those
+    seem to be the same for all version numbering classes; and route
+    rich comparisons to _cmp.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, vstring=None):
+        if vstring:
+            self.parse(vstring)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return "%s ('%s')" % (self.__class__.__name__, str(self))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        c = self._cmp(other)
+        if c is NotImplemented:
+            return c
+        return c == 0
+
+    def __lt__(self, other):
+        c = self._cmp(other)
+        if c is NotImplemented:
+            return c
+        return c < 0
+
+    def __le__(self, other):
+        c = self._cmp(other)
+        if c is NotImplemented:
+            return c
+        return c <= 0
+
+    def __gt__(self, other):
+        c = self._cmp(other)
+        if c is NotImplemented:
+            return c
+        return c > 0
+
+    def __ge__(self, other):
+        c = self._cmp(other)
+        if c is NotImplemented:
+            return c
+        return c >= 0
+
+
+# Interface for version-number classes -- must be implemented
+# by the following classes (the concrete ones -- Version should
+# be treated as an abstract class).
+#    __init__ (string) - create and take same action as 'parse'
+#                        (string parameter is optional)
+#    parse (string)    - convert a string representation to whatever
+#                        internal representation is appropriate for
+#                        this style of version numbering
+#    __str__ (self)    - convert back to a string; should be very similar
+#                        (if not identical to) the string supplied to parse
+#    __repr__ (self)   - generate Python code to recreate
+#                        the instance
+#    _cmp (self, other) - compare two version numbers ('other' may
+#                        be an unparsed version string, or another
+#                        instance of your version class)
+
+
+class StrictVersion(Version):
+    """Version numbering for anal retentives and software idealists.
+    Implements the standard interface for version number classes as
+    described above.  A version number consists of two or three
+    dot-separated numeric components, with an optional "pre-release" tag
+    on the end.  The pre-release tag consists of the letter 'a' or 'b'
+    followed by a number.  If the numeric components of two version
+    numbers are equal, then one with a pre-release tag will always
+    be deemed earlier (lesser) than one without.
+
+    The following are valid version numbers (shown in the order that
+    would be obtained by sorting according to the supplied cmp function):
+
+        0.4       0.4.0  (these two are equivalent)
+        0.4.1
+        0.5a1
+        0.5b3
+        0.5
+        0.9.6
+        1.0
+        1.0.4a3
+        1.0.4b1
+        1.0.4
+
+    The following are examples of invalid version numbers:
+
+        1
+        2.7.2.2
+        1.3.a4
+        1.3pl1
+        1.3c4
+
+    The rationale for this version numbering system will be explained
+    in the distutils documentation.
+    """
+
+    version_re = re.compile(r'^(\d+) \. (\d+) (\. (\d+))? ([ab](\d+))?$',
+                            RE_FLAGS)
+
+    def parse(self, vstring):
+        match = self.version_re.match(vstring)
+        if not match:
+            raise ValueError("invalid version number '%s'" % vstring)
+
+        (major, minor, patch, prerelease, prerelease_num) = \
+            match.group(1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
+
+        if patch:
+            self.version = tuple(map(int, [major, minor, patch]))
+        else:
+            self.version = tuple(map(int, [major, minor])) + (0,)
+
+        if prerelease:
+            self.prerelease = (prerelease[0], int(prerelease_num))
+        else:
+            self.prerelease = None
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        if self.version[2] == 0:
+            vstring = '.'.join(map(str, self.version[0:2]))
+        else:
+            vstring = '.'.join(map(str, self.version))
+
+        if self.prerelease:
+            vstring = vstring + self.prerelease[0] + str(self.prerelease[1])
+
+        return vstring
+
+    def _cmp(self, other):
+        if isinstance(other, str):
+            other = StrictVersion(other)
+        elif not isinstance(other, StrictVersion):
+            return NotImplemented
+
+        if self.version != other.version:
+            # numeric versions don't match
+            # prerelease stuff doesn't matter
+            if self.version < other.version:
+                return -1
+            else:
+                return 1
+
+        # have to compare prerelease
+        # case 1: neither has prerelease; they're equal
+        # case 2: self has prerelease, other doesn't; other is greater
+        # case 3: self doesn't have prerelease, other does: self is greater
+        # case 4: both have prerelease: must compare them!
+
+        if (not self.prerelease and not other.prerelease):
+            return 0
+        elif (self.prerelease and not other.prerelease):
+            return -1
+        elif (not self.prerelease and other.prerelease):
+            return 1
+        elif (self.prerelease and other.prerelease):
+            if self.prerelease == other.prerelease:
+                return 0
+            elif self.prerelease < other.prerelease:
+                return -1
+            else:
+                return 1
+        else:
+            raise AssertionError("never get here")
+
+# end class StrictVersion
+
+# The rules according to Greg Stein:
+# 1) a version number has 1 or more numbers separated by a period or by
+#    sequences of letters. If only periods, then these are compared
+#    left-to-right to determine an ordering.
+# 2) sequences of letters are part of the tuple for comparison and are
+#    compared lexicographically
+# 3) recognize the numeric components may have leading zeroes
+#
+# The LooseVersion class below implements these rules: a version number
+# string is split up into a tuple of integer and string components, and
+# comparison is a simple tuple comparison.  This means that version
+# numbers behave in a predictable and obvious way, but a way that might
+# not necessarily be how people *want* version numbers to behave.  There
+# wouldn't be a problem if people could stick to purely numeric version
+# numbers: just split on period and compare the numbers as tuples.
+# However, people insist on putting letters into their version numbers;
+# the most common purpose seems to be:
+#   - indicating a "pre-release" version
+#     ('alpha', 'beta', 'a', 'b', 'pre', 'p')
+#   - indicating a post-release patch ('p', 'pl', 'patch')
+# but of course this can't cover all version number schemes, and there's
+# no way to know what a programmer means without asking him.
+#
+# The problem is what to do with letters (and other non-numeric
+# characters) in a version number.  The current implementation does the
+# obvious and predictable thing: keep them as strings and compare
+# lexically within a tuple comparison.  This has the desired effect if
+# an appended letter sequence implies something "post-release":
+# eg. "0.99" < "0.99pl14" < "1.0", and "5.001" < "5.001m" < "5.002".
+#
+# However, if letters in a version number imply a pre-release version,
+# the "obvious" thing isn't correct.  Eg. you would expect that
+# "1.5.1" < "1.5.2a2" < "1.5.2", but under the tuple/lexical comparison
+# implemented here, this just isn't so.
+#
+# Two possible solutions come to mind.  The first is to tie the
+# comparison algorithm to a particular set of semantic rules, as has
+# been done in the StrictVersion class above.  This works great as long
+# as everyone can go along with bondage and discipline.  Hopefully a
+# (large) subset of Python module programmers will agree that the
+# particular flavour of bondage and discipline provided by StrictVersion
+# provides enough benefit to be worth using, and will submit their
+# version numbering scheme to its domination.  The free-thinking
+# anarchists in the lot will never give in, though, and something needs
+# to be done to accommodate them.
+#
+# Perhaps a "moderately strict" version class could be implemented that
+# lets almost anything slide (syntactically), and makes some heuristic
+# assumptions about non-digits in version number strings.  This could
+# sink into special-case-hell, though; if I was as talented and
+# idiosyncratic as Larry Wall, I'd go ahead and implement a class that
+# somehow knows that "1.2.1" < "1.2.2a2" < "1.2.2" < "1.2.2pl3", and is
+# just as happy dealing with things like "2g6" and "1.13++".  I don't
+# think I'm smart enough to do it right though.
+#
+# In any case, I've coded the test suite for this module (see
+# ../test/test_version.py) specifically to fail on things like comparing
+# "1.2a2" and "1.2".  That's not because the *code* is doing anything
+# wrong, it's because the simple, obvious design doesn't match my
+# complicated, hairy expectations for real-world version numbers.  It
+# would be a snap to fix the test suite to say, "Yep, LooseVersion does
+# the Right Thing" (ie. the code matches the conception).  But I'd rather
+# have a conception that matches common notions about version numbers.
+
+
+class LooseVersion(Version):
+    """Version numbering for anarchists and software realists.
+    Implements the standard interface for version number classes as
+    described above.  A version number consists of a series of numbers,
+    separated by either periods or strings of letters.  When comparing
+    version numbers, the numeric components will be compared
+    numerically, and the alphabetic components lexically.  The following
+    are all valid version numbers, in no particular order:
+
+        1.5.1
+        1.5.2b2
+        161
+        3.10a
+        8.02
+        3.4j
+        1996.07.12
+        3.2.pl0
+        3.1.1.6
+        2g6
+        11g
+        0.960923
+        2.2beta29
+        1.13++
+        5.5.kw
+        2.0b1pl0
+
+    In fact, there is no such thing as an invalid version number under
+    this scheme; the rules for comparison are simple and predictable,
+    but may not always give the results you want (for some definition
+    of "want").
+    """
+
+    component_re = re.compile(r'(\d+ | [a-z]+ | \.)', re.VERBOSE)
+
+    def __init__(self, vstring=None):
+        if vstring:
+            self.parse(vstring)
+
+    def parse(self, vstring):
+        # I've given up on thinking I can reconstruct the version string
+        # from the parsed tuple -- so I just store the string here for
+        # use by __str__
+        self.vstring = vstring
+        components = [x for x in self.component_re.split(vstring) if x and x != '.']
+        for i, obj in enumerate(components):
+            try:
+                components[i] = int(obj)
+            except ValueError:
+                pass
+
+        self.version = components
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.vstring
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return "LooseVersion ('%s')" % str(self)
+
+    def _cmp(self, other):
+        if isinstance(other, str):
+            other = LooseVersion(other)
+        elif not isinstance(other, LooseVersion):
+            return NotImplemented
+
+        if self.version == other.version:
+            return 0
+        if self.version < other.version:
+            return -1
+        if self.version > other.version:
+            return 1
+
+# end class LooseVersion
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts/system/service_mgr.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts/system/service_mgr.py
index dc8df68e599..ae85bfa760f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts/system/service_mgr.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts/system/service_mgr.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils.facts.collector import BaseFactCollector
 # that don't belong on production boxes.  Since our Solaris code doesn't
 # depend on LooseVersion, do not import it on Solaris.
 if platform.system() != 'SunOS':
-    from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+    from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 
 class ServiceMgrFactCollector(BaseFactCollector):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/dnf.py b/lib/ansible/modules/dnf.py
index e1851a13573..d5f5d7b958f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/dnf.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/dnf.py
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ import sys
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.urls import fetch_file
 from ansible.module_utils.six import PY2, text_type
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.respawn import has_respawned, probe_interpreters_for_module, respawn_module
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/git.py b/lib/ansible/modules/git.py
index f5b63f94e3b..f161836d5fa 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/git.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/git.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ import stat
 import sys
 import shutil
 import tempfile
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.six import b, string_types
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/iptables.py b/lib/ansible/modules/iptables.py
index 03122e07ee5..760fe11416b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/iptables.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/iptables.py
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
 
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/pip.py b/lib/ansible/modules/pip.py
index 420e3a18fc7..17da9dbeb58 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/pip.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/pip.py
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ import tempfile
 import operator
 import shlex
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 SETUPTOOLS_IMP_ERR = None
 try:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/service.py b/lib/ansible/modules/service.py
index 056183be05c..ce0b2a6e2a5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/service.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/service.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ import time
 # that don't belong on production boxes.  Since our Solaris code doesn't
 # depend on LooseVersion, do not import it on Solaris.
 if platform.system() != 'SunOS':
-    from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+    from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/subversion.py b/lib/ansible/modules/subversion.py
index c28471bf227..348d8d9bc01 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/subversion.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/subversion.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ RETURN = r'''#'''
 import os
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/paramiko_ssh.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
index 45f23b4ae12..24362135941 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ import sys
 import re
 
 from termios import tcflush, TCIFLUSH
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from binascii import hexlify
 
 from ansible.errors import (
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/test/core.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/test/core.py
index 4b3995dd16c..e131dc01e10 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/test/core.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/test/core.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import re
 import operator as py_operator
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion, StrictVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion, StrictVersion
 
 from ansible import errors
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text
diff --git a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
index f2946456469..58da28df9b1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import re
 import time
 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from numbers import Number
 from traceback import format_exc
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/version.py b/lib/ansible/utils/version.py
index d69723b4731..c045e7d1c86 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/version.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/version.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion, Version
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion, Version
 
 from ansible.module_utils.six import text_type
 
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/subversion/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/subversion/runme.sh
index f505e58168c..99d56aa79b4 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/subversion/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/subversion/runme.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ ansible-playbook runme.yml "$@" -v --tags tests
 ansible-playbook runme.yml "$@" --tags warnings 2>&1 | tee out.txt
 
 version="$(svn --version -q)"
-secure=$(python -c "from distutils.version import LooseVersion; print(LooseVersion('$version') >= LooseVersion('1.10.0'))")
+secure=$(python -c "from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion; print(LooseVersion('$version') >= LooseVersion('1.10.0'))")
 
 if [[ "${secure}" = "False" ]] && [[ "$(grep -c 'To securely pass credentials, upgrade svn to version 1.10.0' out.txt)" -eq 1 ]]; then
     echo "Found the expected warning"
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/code-smell/runtime-metadata.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/code-smell/runtime-metadata.py
index 29b4ac4bfa7..8bc5098f203 100755
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/code-smell/runtime-metadata.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/code-smell/runtime-metadata.py
@@ -9,17 +9,6 @@ import re
 import sys
 import warnings
 
-# Temporary solution for the PEP 632 deprecation warning on Python 3.10.
-# This should be removed once distutils.version has been vendored in ansible.module_utils.
-# See: https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/74599
-# pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
-warnings.filterwarnings(
-    'ignore',
-    'The distutils package is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.12. Use setuptools or check PEP 632 for potential alternatives',
-    DeprecationWarning,
-)
-
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion, LooseVersion
 from functools import partial
 
 import yaml
@@ -28,6 +17,7 @@ from voluptuous import All, Any, MultipleInvalid, PREVENT_EXTRA
 from voluptuous import Required, Schema, Invalid
 from voluptuous.humanize import humanize_error
 
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import StrictVersion, LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.utils.version import SemanticVersion
 
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/import/importer.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/import/importer.py
index b72bd2cae39..f1d87200e7e 100755
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/import/importer.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/import/importer.py
@@ -532,6 +532,7 @@ def main():
                 )
 
                 # Temporary solution until there is a vendored copy of distutils.version in module_utils.
+                # Some of our dependencies such as packaging.tags also import distutils, which we have no control over
                 # The warning text is: The distutils package is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.12.
                 # Use setuptools or check PEP 632 for potential alternatives
                 warnings.filterwarnings(
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/ansible-test.cfg b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/ansible-test.cfg
index 3f07497198a..187758f4098 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/ansible-test.cfg
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/ansible-test.cfg
@@ -47,3 +47,8 @@ class-attribute-rgx=[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]{1,40}$
 attr-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{1,40}$
 method-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{1,40}$
 function-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{1,40}$
+
+[IMPORTS]
+
+preferred-modules =
+    distutils.version:ansible.module_utils.compat.version,
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/default.cfg b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/default.cfg
index c1a08be5ffc..e413151a7b4 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/default.cfg
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/default.cfg
@@ -139,3 +139,8 @@ good-names=
 
 ignored-modules=
     _MovedItems,
+
+[IMPORTS]
+
+preferred-modules =
+    distutils.version:ansible.module_utils.compat.version,
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/sanity.cfg b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/sanity.cfg
index 77f69b3e220..bcf9549fd7e 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/sanity.cfg
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/config/sanity.cfg
@@ -48,3 +48,8 @@ good-names=
 module-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_-]{2,40}$
 method-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,40}$
 function-rgx=[a-z_][a-z0-9_]{2,40}$
+
+[IMPORTS]
+
+preferred-modules =
+    distutils.version:ansible.module_utils.compat.version,
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/plugins/deprecated.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/plugins/deprecated.py
index 337ccd75c71..e39e5214bf5 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/plugins/deprecated.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/pylint/plugins/deprecated.py
@@ -7,14 +7,13 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import datetime
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
-
 import astroid
 
 from pylint.interfaces import IAstroidChecker
 from pylint.checkers import BaseChecker
 from pylint.checkers.utils import check_messages
 
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.release import __version__ as ansible_version_raw
 from ansible.utils.version import SemanticVersion
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/main.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/main.py
index 23a279deba1..3237cff40df 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/main.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/main.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import traceback
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from contextlib import contextmanager
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion, LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import StrictVersion, LooseVersion
 from fnmatch import fnmatch
 
 import yaml
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/schema.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/schema.py
index b335a5da95b..dfce5f9d422 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/schema.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_data/sanity/validate-modules/validate_modules/schema.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import re
 
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import StrictVersion
 from functools import partial
 
 from voluptuous import ALLOW_EXTRA, PREVENT_EXTRA, All, Any, Invalid, Length, Required, Schema, Self, ValueInvalid
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/deprecated-config.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/deprecated-config.py
index 08e93c36596..e8a2d8d4184 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/deprecated-config.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/deprecated-config.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import sys
 
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import StrictVersion
 
 import yaml
 
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/update-bundled.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/update-bundled.py
index 3904b7302fd..3f0fa1bee0d 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/update-bundled.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/update-bundled.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import fnmatch
 import json
 import re
 import sys
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 import packaging.specifiers
 
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/inventory/foreman.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/inventory/foreman.py
index 43073f81ad4..39e0de338b6 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/inventory/foreman.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/inventory/foreman.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ password: secure
 validate_certs: False
 '''
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native, to_text
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/aws/core.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/aws/core.py
index c4527b6deb4..909d0396d4a 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/aws/core.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/aws/core.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ import re
 import logging
 import traceback
 from functools import wraps
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 try:
     from cStringIO import StringIO
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/crypto.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/crypto.py
index e67eeff1b42..f3f43f071b3 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/crypto.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/crypto.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 
 import sys
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 try:
     import OpenSSL
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/docker/common.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/docker/common.py
index 03307250d69..08a87702cd8 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/docker/common.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/docker/common.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import platform
 import re
 import sys
 from datetime import timedelta
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, env_fallback, missing_required_lib
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/postgres.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/postgres.py
index 63811c30559..0ccc6ed7b52 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/postgres.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/module_utils/postgres.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ except ImportError:
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 
 def postgres_common_argument_spec():
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/ec2.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/ec2.py
index 952aa5a1a6f..1e97effd9f5 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/ec2.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/ec2.py
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ import time
 import datetime
 import traceback
 from ast import literal_eval
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.ec2 import get_aws_connection_info, ec2_argument_spec, ec2_connect
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/htpasswd.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/htpasswd.py
index ad12b0c02d8..2c55a6bce1e 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/htpasswd.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/htpasswd.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ EXAMPLES = """
 import os
 import tempfile
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule, missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
 
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/mongodb_user.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/mongodb_user.py
index 362b3aa45ec..7a18b15908c 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/mongodb_user.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/mongodb_user.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ user:
 import os
 import ssl as ssl_lib
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 from operator import itemgetter
 
 try:
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl.py
index ef601edadc0..9bb83a5b9f3 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl.py
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ crl:
 
 import os
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils import crypto as crypto_utils
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text
diff --git a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl_info.py b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl_info.py
index b61db26ff14..b6d3632074f 100644
--- a/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl_info.py
+++ b/test/support/integration/plugins/modules/x509_crl_info.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ revoked_certificates:
 
 
 import traceback
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible.module_utils import crypto as crypto_utils
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
diff --git a/test/units/utils/test_version.py b/test/units/utils/test_version.py
index 7d04c112c5a..3c2cbaf4c14 100644
--- a/test/units/utils/test_version.py
+++ b/test/units/utils/test_version.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion, StrictVersion
+from ansible.module_utils.compat.version import LooseVersion, StrictVersion
 
 import pytest