diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/loaders.py b/ansible_mitogen/loaders.py
index b4b98962..85b6c0e5 100644
--- a/ansible_mitogen/loaders.py
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/loaders.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ Stable names for PluginLoader instances across Ansible versions.
 """
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
-import distutils.version
+
+import ansible_mitogen.utils
 
 __all__ = [
     'action_loader',
@@ -42,7 +43,6 @@ __all__ = [
     'strategy_loader',
 ]
 
-import ansible
 
 ANSIBLE_VERSION_MIN = (2, 10)
 ANSIBLE_VERSION_MAX = (2, 11)
@@ -68,10 +68,7 @@ def assert_supported_release():
     Throw AnsibleError with a descriptive message in case of being loaded into
     an unsupported Ansible release.
     """
-    v = ansible.__version__
-    if not isinstance(v, tuple):
-        v = tuple(distutils.version.LooseVersion(v).version)
-
+    v = ansible_mitogen.utils.ansible_version
     if v[:2] < ANSIBLE_VERSION_MIN:
         raise ansible.errors.AnsibleError(
             OLD_VERSION_MSG % (v, ANSIBLE_VERSION_MIN)
diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/mixins.py b/ansible_mitogen/mixins.py
index 7e7a3ff0..c4d793e8 100644
--- a/ansible_mitogen/mixins.py
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/mixins.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ import mitogen.utils
 import ansible_mitogen.connection
 import ansible_mitogen.planner
 import ansible_mitogen.target
+import ansible_mitogen.utils
+
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 
 try:
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ class ActionModuleMixin(ansible.plugins.action.ActionBase):
         with a pipelined call to :func:`ansible_mitogen.target.prune_tree`.
         """
         LOG.debug('_remove_tmp_path(%r)', tmp_path)
-        if tmp_path is None and ansible.__version__ > '2.6':
+        if tmp_path is None and ansible_mitogen.utils.ansible_version[:2] >= (2, 6):
             tmp_path = self._connection._shell.tmpdir  # 06f73ad578d
         if tmp_path is not None:
             self._connection.get_chain().call_no_reply(
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ class ActionModuleMixin(ansible.plugins.action.ActionBase):
     def _set_temp_file_args(self, module_args, wrap_async):
         # Ansible>2.5 module_utils reuses the action's temporary directory if
         # one exists. Older versions error if this key is present.
-        if ansible.__version__ > '2.5':
+        if ansible_mitogen.utils.ansible_version[:2] >= (2, 5):
             if wrap_async:
                 # Sharing is not possible with async tasks, as in that case,
                 # the directory must outlive the action plug-in.
@@ -346,7 +348,7 @@ class ActionModuleMixin(ansible.plugins.action.ActionBase):
         # If _ansible_tmpdir is unset, Ansible>2.6 module_utils will use
         # _ansible_remote_tmp as the location to create the module's temporary
         # directory. Older versions error if this key is present.
-        if ansible.__version__ > '2.6':
+        if ansible_mitogen.utils.ansible_version[:2] >= (2, 6):
             module_args['_ansible_remote_tmp'] = (
                 self._connection.get_good_temp_dir()
             )
@@ -393,7 +395,7 @@ class ActionModuleMixin(ansible.plugins.action.ActionBase):
             )
         )
 
-        if tmp and ansible.__version__ < '2.5' and delete_remote_tmp:
+        if tmp and delete_remote_tmp and ansible_mitogen.utils.ansible_version[:2] < (2, 5):
             # Built-in actions expected tmpdir to be cleaned up automatically
             # on _execute_module().
             self._remove_tmp_path(tmp)
diff --git a/ansible_mitogen/utils.py b/ansible_mitogen/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..399c181a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible_mitogen/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import distutils.version
+
+import ansible
+
+__all__ = [
+    'ansible_version',
+]
+
+ansible_version = tuple(distutils.version.LooseVersion(ansible.__version__).version)
+del distutils
+del ansible
diff --git a/tests/ansible/lib/modules/custom_python_uses_distro.py b/tests/ansible/lib/modules/custom_python_uses_distro.py
index 1fc31b4e..6b3a356b 100644
--- a/tests/ansible/lib/modules/custom_python_uses_distro.py
+++ b/tests/ansible/lib/modules/custom_python_uses_distro.py
@@ -5,14 +5,22 @@
 import ansible
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
-if ansible.__version__ > '2.8':
+def try_int(s):
+    try:
+        return int(s, 10)
+    except ValueError:
+        return s
+
+ansible_version = tuple(try_int(s) for s in ansible.__version__.split('.'))
+
+if ansible_version[:2] >= (2, 8):
     from ansible.module_utils import distro
 else:
     distro = None
 
 def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(argument_spec={})
-    if ansible.__version__ > '2.8':
+    if ansible_version[:2] >= (2, 8):
         module.exit_json(info=distro.info())
     else:
         module.exit_json(info={'id': None})